Milwaukee, WI Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In Milwaukee, WI Summary
Cost of living in Milwaukee research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Milwaukee is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in Wisconsin, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:
The cost of living index in Milwaukee is 94, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Milwaukee is 0.9x lower than the national average.
Milwaukee ranks as the #44 cheapest in Wisconsin out of 146.
Milwaukee ranks as the #1,806 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Milwaukee is $218,345.
The median income in Milwaukee is $51,888.
Table Of Contents
Milwaukee's Overall Cost Of Living
Lower Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in Milwaukee, WI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Milwaukee has an overall cost of living index of 94, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Wisconsin, Milwaukee has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Wisconsin's index of 95.
The standard of living in Milwaukee ranks as #44 most affordable out of the 146 places we measured in Wisconsin. By definition, that implies Milwaukee ranks as the #102 most expensive place in the Badger State.
For more reading on life in Milwaukee, check out:
In Wisconsin
In America
Milwaukee Cost Of Living Vs. Wisconsin
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Milwaukee. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Milwaukee is 100.
The Groceries index in Milwaukee is 104.
The Health index in Milwaukee is 110.
The Housing index in Milwaukee is 77.
The Transportation index in Milwaukee is 100.
The Utilities index in Milwaukee is 107.
| Living Expense | Milwaukee | Wisconsin | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 94 | 95 | 100 | |
| Services | 100 | 98 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 104 | 100 | 100 | |
| Health | 110 | 111 | 100 | |
| Housing | 77 | 88 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 100 | 100 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 107 | 102 | 100 | |
Milwaukee, WI Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Wisconsin, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Milwaukee is $218,345.
The Median Rent in Milwaukee is $1,033.
The Median Income in Milwaukee is $51,888.
The Home Value To Income in Milwaukee is 4.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Milwaukee is 0.24x.
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
Milwaukee, WI Costs By Category
Detailed Milwaukee Services Costs Vs. Wisconsin
Detailed Milwaukee Groceries Costs Vs. Wisconsin
Detailed Milwaukee Health Costs Vs. Wisconsin
Detailed Milwaukee Transportation Costs Vs. Wisconsin
Detailed Milwaukee Utilities Costs Vs. Wisconsin
Milwaukee SnackAbility
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Cost Of Living In Cities Around Milwaukee
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Milwaukee. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
West Allis, WI has a cost of living index of 97, 1.0x Milwaukee.
Wauwatosa, WI has a cost of living index of 111, 1.2x Milwaukee.
Brookfield, WI has a cost of living index of 121, 1.3x Milwaukee.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Milwaukee |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Allis, WI | 59,588 | 97 | 1.0x |
| Wauwatosa, WI | 47,718 | 111 | 1.2x |
| Brookfield, WI | 41,592 | 121 | 1.3x |
| Menomonee Falls, WI | 38,963 | 114 | 1.2x |
| Greenfield, WI | 37,361 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Mequon, WI | 25,259 | 133 | 1.4x |
| Whitefish Bay, WI | 14,750 | 126 | 1.3x |
| Shorewood, WI | 13,682 | 121 | 1.3x |
| Glendale, WI | 13,134 | 106 | 1.1x |
| Cedarburg, WI | 12,317 | 116 | 1.2x |
