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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
In plain English: the numbers are clear: 2 of 2 cities beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 111. Milwaukee stands out at 82 on the index, with rent of $1,398/month and household income of $51,888. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data (and that gap widens if you factor in state t…
In plain English: the numbers are clear: 2 of 2 cities beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 111. Milwaukee stands out at 82 on the index, with rent of $1,398/month and household income of $51,888. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
The ranking uses a composite of 2026 data from Census Bureau population/income surveys, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary benchmarks, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Milwaukee (index 82 — we had to double-check this one — , rent $1,398); Tucson (index 82, rent $1,399). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
Milwaukee earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. And as a general rule, the 82 cost index sits 29 points below the national baseline, and the $51,888 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.
If you only look at rent, it's perfect. Zoom out and it's complicated. In Milwaukee, the healthcare index sits at 96 — not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing about.
One more thing before the rankings — this context changes everything: Milwaukee rent up 3% over the past year. Rent in #1-ranked Milwaukee has increased from $1,360 — for better or worse — to $1,398/mo over the past 12 months — a 3% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time. If you're a planner, this number should anchor your spreadsheet.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. The difference between #1 and #5 is often smaller than the difference between "good on paper" and "actually fits my life." Compare your top picks with our calculator to see real take-home numbers.
#1 Ranked: Milwaukee, WI — 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
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MilwaukeeWI | 82 | $1,398 | Details |
| 2 | TucsonAZ | 82 | $1,399 | Details |
561,385 residents · Wisconsin
The #1 spot goes to Milwaukee, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,398/month — saving renters $5,964 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 82, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 96. The 32% rent-to-income ratio is a pressure point — for median earners, housing takes more than recommended.
547,239 residents · Arizona
What does daily life actually cost in Tucson? Start with the 31% 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 $54,546 and homes at $321,688 round out a profile that ranks #2 for clear reasons.
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 Tucson (ranked #2) has a cost index of 82 and rent of $1,399/mo — a 0-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.
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.