Metro Milwaukee

Cost of living

Metro Milwaukee’s cost of living is right at the national average, with a Q1 2024 index of 100.2 – measuring differences between areas in the costs of consumer goods and services for a mid-management standard of living. It is based on 57 items, for which prices are collected quarterly by each participating urban area. This puts Milwaukee in a sweet spot of affordability compared to coastal cities while maintaining a high quality of life.

Composite Cost of Living Index (Q1 2024)

Milwaukee Cost Categories

Metro Milwaukee Index

Key Insights

Milwaukee offers a balanced cost profile with some categories below the national average:

Transportation costs:

7% below average

Miscellaneous goods & services costs:

2% below average

Other categories rank slightly above average:

Housing costs: 103.5

Utilities costs: 101.2

Grocery costs: 101.0

Health care costs: 108.1

United States Average = 100United States Average = 100

Area Composite Grocery items Housing Utilities Transportation Health care Misc. goods & services
New York (Manhattan), NY 231.0 117.7 511.5 116.6 116.2 136.4 125.5
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA 150.6 111.6 233.3 113.9 142.6 99.3 117.6
Miami-Dade County, FL 119.7 109.0 153.3 107.7 103.9 102.2 106.7
Chicago, IL 113.7 102.5 139.0 96.9 99.5 107.3 107.3
Denver, CO 107.6 100.8 124.4 89.7 91.6 107.0 106.4
Dallas, TX 101.5 98.6 97.3 112.9 88.8 99.7 107.6
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI 100.2 101.0 103.5 101.2 93.0 108.1 98.0
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN 93.1 103.4 82.6 94.8 95.5 97.4 95.6
St. Louis, MO-IL 89.5 98.2 81.3 98.8 89.3 86.7 90.7
Cleveland, OH 89.3 99.1 78.1 91.4 94.5 88.5 92.4
Indianapolis, IN 87.8 98.2 75.6 89.0 93.4 86.0 91.7

(1) Unweighted average of Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN
Source: C2ER

Why Milwaukee

offers value

For families and professionals considering relocation, Milwaukee presents several advantages:

  • 1

    Balanced cost profile: Milwaukee’s overall cost index sits precisely at the national average

  • 2

    Midwestern affordability: Significantly more affordable than coastal cities

  • 3

    Housing value: Housing costs only 3.5% above national average

  • 4

    Transportation savings: Transportation costs 7% below average

Regional context

When compared to nearby urban centers, Milwaukee presents an attractive value proposition:

Chicago

More expensive

Dallas

Similar

Indianapolis

More affordable

Housing costs

Milwaukee’s housing costs (103.5) are significantly more affordable than coastal cities:

Housing Cost of Living Index (Q1 2024)

  • 80% lower than Manhattan (511.5)
  • 56% lower than Los Angeles (233.3)
  • 32% lower than Miami (153.3)

Understanding the Index

The Cost of Living Index measures regional differences in consumer goods and services prices based on 57 items collected quarterly across participating urban areas. It represents a mid-management standard of living, excluding taxes and non-consumer expenditures.

Looking Forward

While this data represents Q1 2024, the Cost of Living Index is updated quarterly. For the most current information, visit the Council for Community & Economic Research at www.c2er.org.