Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Chicago compared to Milwaukee? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Chicago | Metric | Milwaukee | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 114 | Cost of Living Index | 90 | -21.1% |
| $315,000 | Median Home Price | $225,000 | -28.6% |
| $2,288 | Median Monthly Rent | $1,195 | -47.8% |
| $70,100 | Median Household Income | $56,400 | -19.5% |
| 2.1% | Property Tax Rate | 1.8% | -14.3% |
| 4.6% | Unemployment Rate | 4.6% | +0.0% |
| 31 min | Average Commute | 24 min | -22.6% |
| 36.7 | Median Age | 33.4 | -9.0% |
| 9,560,000 | Metro Population | 1,590,000 | -83.4% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Chicago costs $2,236/month (PITI) compared to $1,541/month in Milwaukee — a difference of $695/month or $8,340/year. The price-to-income ratio is 4.5x in Chicago versus 4.0x in Milwaukee, suggesting Milwaukee is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 6.0 years to save a down payment in Chicago compared to 5.3 years in Milwaukee.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Chicago | Milwaukee |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $70,100 | $56,400 |
| State Income Tax | $3,329 | $1,837 |
| Federal Income Tax | $6,871 | $4,639 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $5,362 | $4,315 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $6,615/yr | $4,050/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 6.3% | 5.0% |
| Total Tax Burden | $15,562 (22.2%) | $10,791 (19.1%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $54,538 | $45,609 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $15,562 in Chicago (22.2% effective) versus $10,791 in Milwaukee (19.1% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $54,538 in Chicago and $45,609 in Milwaukee. Property taxes add $6,615/year on the median Chicago home versus $4,050/year in Milwaukee.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $70,100 in Chicago (COL 114) and relocate to Milwaukee (COL 90), you would need $55,342 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you can take a pay cut of $14,758 and still maintain your lifestyle in Milwaukee.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Chicago is 31 minutes versus 24 minutes in Milwaukee, a difference of 7 minutes each way. Both cities have similar unemployment rates around 4.6%. Chicago skews slightly older with a median age of 36.7 vs 33.4 in Milwaukee.
Chicago is 21.1% more expensive than Milwaukee overall. Chicago has a cost of living index of 114 compared to 90 for Milwaukee (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $315,000 in Chicago vs $225,000 in Milwaukee.
The median home price in Chicago is $315,000, which is $90,000 more than Milwaukee's median of $225,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $2,288/month in Chicago vs $1,195/month in Milwaukee, a difference of $1,093/month or $13,116/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $70,100 salary in Chicago is equivalent to $55,342 in Milwaukee. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Chicago's COL index of 114 vs Milwaukee's 90. Conversely, $56,400 in Milwaukee equals $71,440 in Chicago.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $15,562 (22.2% effective rate) in Chicago vs $10,791 (19.1% effective rate) in Milwaukee. Property taxes on the median home are $6,615/year in Chicago (2.1% rate) vs $4,050/year in Milwaukee (1.8% rate). Sales tax rates are 6.3% in Illinois and 5.0% in Wisconsin.
Chicago median household income: $70,100/yr. Milwaukee median household income: $56,400/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $2,288 in Chicago vs $1,195 in Milwaukee. Annualized that is $27,456 vs $14,340.
Milwaukee offers a lower cost of living (index 90 vs 114), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Chicago typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Chicago and Milwaukee numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Chicago vs Milwaukee cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .