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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The best deals aren't always obvious. This one almost wasn't: Milwaukee rent up 3% over the past year. Rent in #1-ranked Milwaukee has increased from $1,360 — though some people might weigh that differently — to $1,398/mo over the past 12 months — a 3% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranki…
#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
The best deals aren't always obvious. This one almost wasn't: Milwaukee rent up 3% over the past year. Rent in #1-ranked Milwaukee has increased from $1,360 — though some people might weigh that differently — to $1,398/mo over the past 12 months — a 3% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
The numbers are clear: 2 of 2 cities in Wisconsin beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 112. Milwaukee stands out at 92 on the index, with rent of $1,398/month and household income of $51,888. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data.
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.
There's more to the story, though. Wisconsin — dairy state stability with surprisingly low costs. The 2 cities we track here average a cost index of 99 and median income of $64,436. It's a clear buyer's market compared to national norms. The typical rent runs $1,524/month, which is $371 less than the national median.
If you're ready to act on this, three things to do next: 1) Click into the city pages for the top 3 and check rent trends — direction matters more than the snapshot. 2) Run your income through the salary calculator for a personalized cost comparison. 3) Compare your top two picks head-to-head on our comparison page. The data is here; the decision is yours.
561,385 residents · Wisconsin
Milwaukee earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 92 cost index sits 20 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 81, while Healthcare trails at 95.
280,305 residents · Wisconsin
Why Madison ranks #2: the numbers tell a clear story. At 105 on the cost index, residents save roughly 7% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,649/month while the median household pulls in $76,983/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 97, though Housing (113) lags behind. Home prices average $415,530 — $51,840 below the national median.
Cities are ranked by total population from the latest Census estimates. Growing populations typically signal economic opportunity — but also rising costs. We pair population data with affordability metrics for context. 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.