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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $30K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. We ran the numbers on 2 cities in Wisconsin using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Milwaukee come…
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $30K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. We ran the numbers on 2 cities in Wisconsin using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Milwaukee comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis.
Milwaukee comes in at #1. Rent is $1,398 a month. Household income is $51,888. The cost of living index is 92. Fairly typical for a city this size.
Bottom line: Milwaukee leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. It's fine. Not great, not bad. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
#1 Ranked: Milwaukee — cost index 92, rent $1,398/mo, income $51,888
0 of 2 cities keep rent under 30% of $30K
0 of 2 cities keep rent under 30% of $30K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
561,385 residents · Wisconsin
Look, the #1 spot goes to Milwaukee, and the breakdown explains why. Moving on. Renters here pay $1,398/month — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — — saving renters $5,964 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 81, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 95. The 32% rent-to-income ratio is a pressure point — for median earners, housing takes more than recommended.
280,305 residents · Wisconsin
The #2 spot goes to Madison, and the breakdown explains why. Fairly typical for a city this size. Renters here pay $1,649/month — saving renters $2,952 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 97, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 113. A 26% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Milwaukee | 7.65% | 5.44% | 1.51% | $22,042 |
2Madison | 7.65% | 5.44% | 1.51% | $22,042 |
Milwaukee ranks #1 in Wisconsin for this analysis with a cost index of 92 and median income of $51,888.
Yes. On a $30K salary in Milwaukee, rent would consume about 56% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. It's tight — consider a roommate or nearby suburb.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Milwaukee (ranked #1) has a cost index of 92 and rent of $1,398/mo, while Madison (ranked #2) has a cost index of 105 and rent of $1,649/mo — a 13-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Milwaukee is $1,398/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $497 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 7.65% state income tax, estimated take-home on $30K in Milwaukee is approximately $22,042/year ($1,837/month). After median rent of $1,398/month, you'd have roughly $5,266/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Milwaukee is $216,278, which is 4.2× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. The national median home price is $467,370.
Wisconsin has a 7.65% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 5.44%, and the effective property tax rate is 1.51%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.