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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
No sugarcoating: Wisconsin is a genuine bargain: 2 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Milwaukee leads at an index of 82 with rent at just $1,398/month — 26% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated i…
561,385 residents · Wisconsin
What does daily life actually cost in Milwaukee? Start with the 32% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. On the category level, Housing (index 82) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 96) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $51,888 — we had to double-check this one — and homes at $216,278 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons (that's pre-tax, of course).
280,305 residents · Wisconsin
A closer look at Madison: the cost index of 96 breaks down to a Housing index of 96 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 99 (weakest). You get the picture. Median rent is $1,649/month — 13% below the national median — while household income sits at $76,983, meaning locals spend about 26% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
#1 Ranked: Milwaukee — cost index 82, rent $1,398/mo, income $51,888
Milwaukee rent up 3% over the past year
2 of 2 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
No sugarcoating: Wisconsin is a genuine bargain: 2 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Milwaukee leads at an index of 82 with rent at just $1,398/month — 26% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026 (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
The 3.5× rule is a conservative benchmark: lenders often approve up to 4-5× income, but 3.5× keeps monthly payments safely under 28% of gross income at typical rates. On $60K, that means targeting homes under $210,000 — we had to double-check this one — . Milwaukee offers a median home at $216,278 — a 3.6× ratio with room to spare.
Milwaukee earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 82 cost index sits 29 points below the national baseline, and the $51,888 — we had to double-check this one — median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $216,278 — $251,092 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 82, while Healthcare trails at 96.
This looks affordable — until you factor in healthcare. In Milwaukee, the healthcare index sits at 96 — not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing about (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
Milwaukee rent up 3% over the past year. Rent in #1-ranked Milwaukee has increased from $1,360 — make of that what you will — to $1,398/mo over the past 12 months — a 3% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time (that's pre-tax, of course).
Bottom line: Milwaukee leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. 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.
We rank cities by their home-price-to-income ratio (median home price ÷ median household income). A lower ratio means homes are more attainable relative to local earnings. The standard benchmark is 3-5×; above 5× is considered stretched. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Milwaukee ranks #1 in Wisconsin for this analysis with a cost index of 82 and median income of $51,888.
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 82 and rent of $1,398/mo, while Madison (ranked #2) has a cost index of 96 and rent of $1,649/mo — a 14-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.
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.