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Cost of Living · Wisconsin

Milwaukee Cost of Living

Milwaukee, Wisconsin costs approximately 6.0% below the US national average. Compare with 99 other major US cities.

0.94×
cost-of-living index (1.00 = US national average)
Milwaukee ranks 2 of 2 cities in Wisconsin by cost of living.
Cities MORE expensive than Milwaukee (70)
San Francisco, CA
+54.3% more expensive
Oakland, CA
+43.6% more expensive
New York City, NY
+40.4% more expensive
Honolulu, HI
+38.3% more expensive
Irvine, CA
+38.3% more expensive
Los Angeles, CA
+29.8% more expensive
Boston, MA
+29.8% more expensive
San Diego, CA
+28.7% more expensive
Yonkers, NY
+27.7% more expensive
Anchorage, AK
+27.7% more expensive
Seattle, WA
+25.5% more expensive
Long Beach, CA
+25.5% more expensive
Anaheim, CA
+25.5% more expensive
Scottsdale, AZ
+25.5% more expensive
Chula Vista, CA
+22.3% more expensive
Miami, FL
+19.1% more expensive
Portland, OR
+17.0% more expensive
Newark, NJ
+17.0% more expensive
Sacramento, CA
+17.0% more expensive
Riverside, CA
+17.0% more expensive
Denver, CO
+14.9% more expensive
Chicago, IL
+11.7% more expensive
Austin, TX
+11.7% more expensive
Baltimore, MD
+11.7% more expensive
Stockton, CA
+11.7% more expensive
Aurora, CO
+11.7% more expensive
Hialeah, FL
+11.7% more expensive
Frisco, TX
+11.7% more expensive
Las Vegas, NV
+10.6% more expensive
Minneapolis, MN
+10.6% more expensive
Plano, TX
+10.6% more expensive
Chandler, AZ
+10.6% more expensive
Phoenix, AZ
+8.5% more expensive
Philadelphia, PA
+8.5% more expensive
Atlanta, GA
+8.5% more expensive
Tampa, FL
+8.5% more expensive
Henderson, NV
+8.5% more expensive
Reno, NV
+8.5% more expensive
Gilbert, AZ
+8.5% more expensive
Charleston, SC
+8.5% more expensive
Salt Lake City, UT
+8.5% more expensive
Orlando, FL
+7.4% more expensive
Wilmington, DE
+6.4% more expensive
Raleigh, NC
+6.4% more expensive
Virginia Beach, VA
+6.4% more expensive
St. Paul, MN
+6.4% more expensive
Chesapeake, VA
+6.4% more expensive
North Las Vegas, NV
+6.4% more expensive
Boise, ID
+6.4% more expensive
Fresno, CA
+6.4% more expensive
Worcester, MA
+6.4% more expensive
Dallas, TX
+5.3% more expensive
Nashville, TN
+5.3% more expensive
Colorado Springs, CO
+5.3% more expensive
Bakersfield, CA
+5.3% more expensive
St. Petersburg, FL
+5.3% more expensive
Madison, WI
+5.3% more expensive
Norfolk, VA
+4.3% more expensive
Jacksonville, FL
+3.2% more expensive
Charlotte, NC
+3.2% more expensive
Mesa, AZ
+3.2% more expensive
Houston, TX
+2.1% more expensive
Fort Worth, TX
+2.1% more expensive
Tucson, AZ
+2.1% more expensive
Glendale, AZ
+2.1% more expensive
Garland, TX
+2.1% more expensive
Spokane, WA
+2.1% more expensive
Pittsburgh, PA
+1.1% more expensive
Arlington, TX
+1.1% more expensive
Tallahassee, FL
+1.1% more expensive
Cities CHEAPER than Milwaukee (27)
San Antonio, TX
−1.1% cheaper
Grand Rapids, MI
−1.1% cheaper
Columbus, OH
−2.1% cheaper
Detroit, MI
−2.1% cheaper
Cincinnati, OH
−2.1% cheaper
Kansas City, MO
−2.1% cheaper
Lexington, KY
−2.1% cheaper
Corpus Christi, TX
−2.1% cheaper
Buffalo, NY
−2.1% cheaper
Greensboro, NC
−2.1% cheaper
Knoxville, TN
−2.1% cheaper
El Paso, TX
−3.2% cheaper
Cleveland, OH
−3.2% cheaper
St. Louis, MO
−3.2% cheaper
Winston-Salem, NC
−3.2% cheaper
Indianapolis, IN
−4.3% cheaper
Louisville, KY
−4.3% cheaper
Omaha, NE
−4.3% cheaper
Memphis, TN
−5.3% cheaper
Oklahoma City, OK
−5.3% cheaper
Lincoln, NE
−5.3% cheaper
Birmingham, AL
−6.4% cheaper
Toledo, OH
−6.4% cheaper
Lubbock, TX
−6.4% cheaper
Wichita, KS
−8.5% cheaper
Fort Wayne, IN
−8.5% cheaper
Mobile, AL
−8.5% cheaper

What living in Milwaukee costs

Milwaukee runs at 0.94x the US national average — 70 of the 99 other metros tracked here cost more, 27 cost less. A one-bedroom goes for about $1,150 a month, or $13,800 a year, and the median home sits near $280,000.

The price-to-rent ratio here is roughly 20, which is high. Above about 20, renting and investing the down payment usually beats buying over a normal holding period — the purchase price is steep relative to what the same property earns as a rental.

Working and living here

Milwaukee is a metro of roughly 1.6M and roughly flat, running on manufacturing, healthcare, finance & insurance. Larger employers include Northwestern Mutual, Froedtert Health, Rockwell Automation.

Wisconsin taxes income at the state level, and Milwaukee adds no separate city tax. Cost-of-living indexes exclude income tax entirely, so compare after-tax figures rather than index ratios when weighing this metro against one in a no-income-tax state.

Getting around: Milwaukee is served by limited transit. Budget for a car — around $9,000 a year all-in once insurance, fuel, maintenance and parking are counted, a cost the index assumes but does not itemise.

Climate: Cold continental climate moderated by Lake Michigan: January lows near 17°F, July highs near 81°F.

No city income tax, though Wisconsin's state rate reaches 7.65%; Harley-Davidson and Northwestern Mutual are both headquartered here, anchoring manufacturing and insurance employment.

Related tools

Paycheck calculator — take-home after federal, state and local tax. Salary calculator — pay by job and state. Compare against another metro.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Milwaukee expensive to live in?▾
Relative to the US average, no — the cost index is 0.94x, above 27 and below 70 of the 99 other metros tracked here. A one-bedroom averages $1,150 a month and the median home $280,000.
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Milwaukee?▾
A common rule keeps rent under 30% of gross income, which at $1,150 a month implies about $46,000 a year for a one-bedroom. That is a floor rather than a comfortable figure — it leaves nothing for savings or the car this metro effectively requires.