1-Bedroom Apartment Rent in Wauwatosa, WI
Median asking rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin as of July 2026. That's +32% lower than the citywide median of $1,722 and +16% below the national 1-bedroom median of $1,395.
Income needed for a 1-bedroom in Wauwatosa
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a 1-bedroom at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in Wauwatosa
Compare Wauwatosa's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a 1-bedroom in Wisconsin
| # | City | 1-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manitowoc | $710 |
| 2 | Marshfield | $740 |
| 3 | Oshkosh | $760 |
| 4 | Stevens Point | $760 |
| 5 | Wisconsin Rapids | $770 |
| 6 | Weston | $800 |
| 7 | Menomonie | $802 |
| 8 | Wausau | $805 |
| 9 | Menasha | $810 |
| 10 | Appleton | $823 |
| 11 | Superior | $830 |
| 12 | Green Bay | $840 |
| 13 | Beloit | $850 |
| 14 | Watertown | $850 |
| 15 | La Crosse | $860 |
Most expensive cities for a 1-bedroom in Wisconsin
| # | City | 1-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brookfield | $1,590 |
| 2 | Verona | $1,450 |
| 3 | Hudson | $1,420 |
| 4 | Madison | $1,354 |
| 5 | Oak Creek | $1,350 |
| 6 | Shorewood | $1,290 |
| 7 | Middleton | $1,290 |
| 8 | Sun Prairie | $1,280 |
| 9 | Menomonee Falls | $1,280 |
| 10 | Franklin | $1,270 |
| 11 | De Forest | $1,240 |
| 12 | Germantown | $1,230 |
| 13 | Fitchburg | $1,227 |
| 14 | River Falls | $1,200 |
| 15 | New Richmond | $1,200 |
Nearby cities — 1-bedroom rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper 1-bedroom rents than Wauwatosa.
| City | Distance | 1-Bedroom rent | vs Wauwatosa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 4.4 mi | $1,033 | $-132 (-11%) |
| Greenfield, WI | 6.8 mi | $1,043 | $-122 (-10%) |
| Brookfield, WI | 7.2 mi | $1,590 | +$425 (+36%) |
| Glendale, WI | 8.3 mi | $964 | $-201 (-17%) |
| Whitefish Bay, WI | 9.3 mi | $1,186 | +$21 (+2%) |
| Brown Deer, WI | 9.3 mi | $1,124 | $-41 (-4%) |
| Menomonee Falls, WI | 10.3 mi | $1,280 | +$115 (+10%) |
| Franklin, WI | 11.4 mi | $1,270 | +$105 (+9%) |
| Saint Francis, WI | 11.8 mi | $890 | $-275 (-24%) |
| Cudahy, WI | 13 mi | $960 | $-205 (-18%) |
| Germantown, WI | 14.2 mi | $1,230 | +$65 (+6%) |
| Oak Creek, WI | 14.5 mi | $1,350 | +$185 (+16%) |
1-Bedroom rent in Wauwatosa — common questions
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Wauwatosa?
As of July 2026, the median 1-bedroom apartment rent in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin is $1,165 per month. This is +32% below the citywide median of $1,722.
What income do you need to afford a 1-bedroom in Wauwatosa?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $46,600 ($3,883/month gross), which works out to roughly $22.40/hour at a full-time job.
Is Wauwatosa expensive for a 1-bedroom compared to the rest of the US?
Wauwatosa's 1-bedroom median of $1,165 is +16% below the national 1-bedroom median of $1,395. It ranks in the 33th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Wauwatosa rank for 1-bedroom rent in Wisconsin?
Among the 62 cities in Wisconsin with 1-bedroom data, Wauwatosa ranks #45 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper 1-bedroom options near Wauwatosa?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper 1-bedroom rents include Milwaukee ($1,033), Greenfield ($1,043), Glendale ($964).