South Milwaukee, WI Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In South Milwaukee, WI Summary

Cost of living in South 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 South 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 South Milwaukee is 99, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in South Milwaukee is 1.0x lower than the national average.

  • South Milwaukee ranks as the #68 cheapest in Wisconsin out of 146.

  • South Milwaukee ranks as the #2,497 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in South Milwaukee is $292,381.

  • The median income in South Milwaukee is $70,146.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
99
South Milwaukee's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in South Milwaukee, WI?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, South Milwaukee has an overall cost of living index of 99, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Wisconsin, South Milwaukee has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Wisconsin's index of 95.

The standard of living in South Milwaukee ranks as #68 most affordable out of the 146 places we measured in Wisconsin. By definition, that implies South Milwaukee ranks as the #78 most expensive place in the Badger State.

For more reading on life in South Milwaukee, check out:

68 out of 146
In Wisconsin
2,497 out of 6,489
In America

South Milwaukee Cost Of Living Vs. Wisconsin

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in South Milwaukee. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in South Milwaukee is 100.

  • The Groceries index in South Milwaukee is 104.

  • The Health index in South Milwaukee is 110.

  • The Housing index in South Milwaukee is 90.

  • The Transportation index in South Milwaukee is 97.

  • The Utilities index in South Milwaukee is 104.

Living Expense South Milwaukee Wisconsin National Average
Overall 99 95 100
Services 100 98 100
Groceries 104 100 100
Health 110 111 100
Housing 90 88 100
Transportation 97 100 100
Utilities 104 102 100
For more reading on cost of living around Wisconsin, check out:
South Milwaukee Cost of Living Vs. WI

South 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 South Milwaukee is $292,381.

  • The Median Rent in South Milwaukee is $1,014.

  • The Median Income in South Milwaukee is $70,146.

  • The Home Value To Income in South Milwaukee is 4.2x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in South Milwaukee is 0.17x.

Statistic South Milwaukee Wisconsin United States
Median Home Value $292,381 $328,216 $303,400
Median Rent $1,014 $1,045 $1,348
Median Income $70,146 $75,670 $78,538
Home Value To Income 4.2x 4.3x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.17x 0.17x 0.21x
$292,381
Median Home Value
$1,014
Median Rent
$70,146
Median Income

South Milwaukee, WI Costs By Category

Detailed South Milwaukee Services Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item South Milwaukee Wisconsin
Shampoo $1.07 $1.28
Movie $10.26 $12.13
Bowling $10.03 $18
Haircut $20.21 $24.26
Beauty Salon $33.25 $45.56

Detailed South Milwaukee Groceries Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item South Milwaukee Wisconsin
Ground Beef $6.05 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.46 $1.57
Milk $4.55 $4.67
Potatoes $4.1 $4.93
Pizza $11.33 $12.09
Beer $8.52 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.66 $3.7

Detailed South Milwaukee Health Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item South Milwaukee Wisconsin
Optometrist $278.65 $125.68
Doctor $223.73 $135.78
Dentist $106.79 $113.29

Detailed South Milwaukee Transportation Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item South Milwaukee Wisconsin
Gasoline $3.3 $3.46
Tire Balancing $44.14 $59.92

Detailed South Milwaukee Utilities Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item South Milwaukee Wisconsin
All Electricity $182.69 $193.99
Phone $185.79 $192.25

South Milwaukee SnackAbility

8.5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
7
Affordability
8
Diversity
8
Safety
8
Amenities
9
Education
8
Commute
7

Cost Of Living In Cities Around South Milwaukee

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around South Milwaukee. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Wauwatosa, WI has a cost of living index of 111, 1.1x South Milwaukee.

  • Brookfield, WI has a cost of living index of 121, 1.2x South Milwaukee.

  • New Berlin, WI has a cost of living index of 114, 1.2x South Milwaukee.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. South Milwaukee
Wauwatosa, WI 47,718 111 1.1x
Brookfield, WI 41,592 121 1.2x
New Berlin, WI 40,384 114 1.2x
Greenfield, WI 37,361 103 1.0x
Oak Creek, WI 36,473 107 1.1x
Franklin, WI 35,751 112 1.1x
Caledonia, WI 25,292 107 1.1x
Muskego, WI 25,156 116 1.2x
Cudahy, WI 17,964 97 1.0x
Whitefish Bay, WI 14,750 126 1.3x

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