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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Dollar for dollar, few states match Wisconsin's value. 2 out of 2 cities undercut the national cost index of 112. Leading the pack: Milwaukee at index 92, where median rent of $1,398/month saves renters $5,964/year versus the national median.
561,385 residents · Wisconsin
Why Milwaukee ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 92 on the cost index, residents save roughly 20% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,398/month while the median household pulls in $51,888/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 81, though Healthcare (95) lags behind. Home prices average $216,278 — $251,092 below the national median.
280,305 residents · Wisconsin
Here's the thing: Madison earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 105 cost index sits 7 points below the national baseline, and the $76,983 — and that's before you even look at taxes — median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $415,530 — $51,840 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. Fairly typical for a city this size. On the cost side, Utilities leads the way at 97, while Housing trails at 113 (we double-checked this one).
#1 Ranked: Milwaukee — cost index 92, 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 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
Dollar for dollar, few states match Wisconsin's value. 2 out of 2 cities undercut the national cost index of 112. Leading the pack: Milwaukee at index 92, where median rent of $1,398/month saves renters $5,964/year versus the national median.
Look, Rent data is sourced from Zillow's Observed Rent Index (ZORI), which tracks the median rent across all active listings — not just new leases. This gives a more representative and stable signal than asking prices alone. Milwaukee: $1,398/mo, Madison: $1,649/mo. The cheapest city here is $497 under the national median — that's $5,964/year in savings on rent alone (that's pre-tax, of course).
Dive into Milwaukee's numbers: cost index 92 (20 points below national average), rent $1,398/month, income $51,888, and a home price of $216,278. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 81, while Healthcare runs 95. As a major city with 561,385 residents, amenities and job markets are robust.
There's a catch worth understanding. Milwaukee rent up 3% over the past year. Rent in #1-ranked Milwaukee has increased from $1,360 to $1,398/mo over the past 12 months — a 3% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time. That gap is hard to ignore.
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.
Cities are ranked by median 1-bedroom rent from Zillow's Observed Rent Index (ZORI). ZORI reflects the median rent across all listed units, not just new leases, providing a more stable and representative figure. 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 92 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 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.
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.