Cost of living, Milwaukee
96.9
BEA Regional Price Parity vs US average of 100 (2024). Milwaukee sits about 3.1% below national prices.
BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA RPP all-items, 2024. Disclaimer
- vs US
- −3.1%
- Metro
- Milwaukee
- CBSA
- 33340
Milwaukee all-items RPP is 96.9 (2024), about 3.1% below US-average prices. A $90,000 salary at national prices maps to about $87,210 here for equal purchasing power.
Price components in Milwaukee
| Component | Milwaukee | US |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 96.9 | 100 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 100 |
| Housing (rents) | 97.1 | 100 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 100 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, US = 100.
What a US-average salary buys in Milwaukee
| At US average | In Milwaukee |
|---|---|
| $60,000 | $58,140 |
| $90,000 | $87,210 |
| $150,000 | $145,350 |
Local equivalent = national salary × (96.9 ÷ 100). BEA RPP 2024.
Top wages here
FAQ
- What is the cost of living in Milwaukee?
- The BEA Regional Price Parity (all items, 2024) for Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI is 96.9, versus a US average of 100 (−3.1%).
- How is RPP different from CPI?
- CPI tracks price change over time. RPP compares price levels across places in a given year versus the national average of 100. PayByCity uses RPP for cross-metro purchasing power, including goods, housing rents, and other services components.
- How should I use this with OEWS wages?
- Pair local BLS OEWS medians (May 2025) with this RPP. A $90,000 salary at US-average prices maps to about $87,210 in Milwaukee for equal purchasing power.
- Does this include taxes or housing alone?
- No. All-items RPP is a broad price-level index. Component indexes show goods, rents, and other services separately, but this is not a rent quote, tax estimate, or household budget.
What this covers
Includes
- BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
- BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
- Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)
Does not include
- Federal, state, or local income taxes
- Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
- Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand
Highest wages here
- Physicians, All Other , 2,390 OEWS emp. $411,200
- Computer and Information Systems Managers , 2,520 OEWS emp. $161,220
- Financial Managers , 5,160 OEWS emp. $156,100
- Pharmacists , 1,760 OEWS emp. $153,340
- Sales Managers , 3,240 OEWS emp. $144,560
- Architectural and Engineering Managers , 1,610 OEWS emp. $143,570
See methodology and disclaimer.