Cost of Living in Milwaukee, WI (2026)

Milwaukee's cost of living is 3% below the US average. $100,000 here is worth about $103,160 nationally. Rent, homes and monthly costs.

Milwaukee has a cost-of-living index of 97 against a US average of 100 — about 3% below average. $100,000 of income here is worth roughly $103,160 at the national average.

What it costs to live in Milwaukee

MeasureMilwaukeeUS average
Cost-of-living index97100
Median rent$1,033/mo-
Median home value$172,000-
Median household income$51,888-
Population569,756-

Monthly cost breakdown in Milwaukee

Estimates use BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey shares scaled by the local cost-of-living index. Housing uses the city’s median rent; the owning column uses a 30-year mortgage at 6.7% with 10% down on the median home.

CategoryRentingOwning
Housing$1,033$999
Transport$687$687
Food$541$541
Healthcare$340$340
Other$1,207$1,207
Total$3,808$3,774

Affordability in Milwaukee

Median rent takes about 23.9% of the median household income in Milwaukee — comfortably inside the 30% rule of thumb.

The median home costs 3.3x the median household income. Three times income is the traditional comfort line; five times is where affordability usually breaks down.

Highest-paying roles in Milwaukee

RoleTypical salaryWorth nationally
Marketing Manager$129,100$133,179
Software Developer$107,830$111,237
Data Scientist$105,610$108,947
Financial Analyst$99,380$102,520
Physical Therapist$99,210$102,345
Police Officer$87,830$90,605
Mechanical Engineer$86,650$89,388
Registered Nurse$82,780$85,396

“Worth nationally” adjusts each salary for Milwaukee’s cost of living, so you can compare offers between cities on equal terms.

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Frequently asked questions

Milwaukee has a cost-of-living index of 97 against a US average of 100, so it is about 3% below the national average. In practical terms, $100,000 of income in Milwaukee has roughly the purchasing power of $103,160 at the national average.

A common benchmark is keeping rent at or under 30% of gross income. At Milwaukee's median rent of $1,033/month that implies about $41,320 a year before tax. The median household in Milwaukee earns $51,888.

Renting, a single household spends roughly $3,808 a month in Milwaukee across housing, transport, food, healthcare and everything else. Buying at the median home price, the estimate is about $3,774 a month including a 30-year mortgage at 6.7% with 10% down.

The median home in Milwaukee costs $172,000, which is 3.3x the median household income of $51,888. Lenders traditionally treat 3x as comfortable and about 5x as stretched, so Milwaukee is manageable but tight.