Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Denver 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.
| Denver | Metric | Milwaukee | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 121 | Cost of Living Index | 90 | -25.6% |
| $565,000 | Median Home Price | $225,000 | -60.2% |
| $1,395 | Median Monthly Rent | $1,195 | -14.3% |
| $85,200 | Median Household Income | $56,400 | -33.8% |
| 0.5% | Property Tax Rate | 1.8% | +227.3% |
| 3.3% | Unemployment Rate | 4.6% | +39.4% |
| 26 min | Average Commute | 24 min | -7.7% |
| 36.6 | Median Age | 33.4 | -8.7% |
| 2,930,000 | Metro Population | 1,590,000 | -45.7% |
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 Denver costs $3,281/month (PITI) compared to $1,541/month in Milwaukee — a difference of $1,740/month or $20,880/year. The price-to-income ratio is 6.6x in Denver versus 4.0x in Milwaukee, suggesting Milwaukee is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 8.8 years to save a down payment in Denver compared to 5.3 years in Milwaukee.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Denver | Milwaukee |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $85,200 | $56,400 |
| State Income Tax | $3,089 | $1,837 |
| Federal Income Tax | $10,193 | $4,639 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $6,517 | $4,315 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $3,108/yr | $4,050/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 2.9% | 5.0% |
| Total Tax Burden | $19,799 (23.2%) | $10,791 (19.1%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $65,401 | $45,609 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $19,799 in Denver (23.2% effective) versus $10,791 in Milwaukee (19.1% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $65,401 in Denver and $45,609 in Milwaukee. Property taxes add $3,108/year on the median Denver 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 $85,200 in Denver (COL 121) and relocate to Milwaukee (COL 90), you would need $63,372 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you can take a pay cut of $21,828 and still maintain your lifestyle in Milwaukee.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Denver is 26 minutes versus 24 minutes in Milwaukee, a difference of 2 minutes each way. Denver's lower unemployment rate of 3.3% versus 4.6% suggests a stronger job market. Denver skews slightly older with a median age of 36.6 vs 33.4 in Milwaukee.
Denver is 25.6% more expensive than Milwaukee overall. Denver has a cost of living index of 121 compared to 90 for Milwaukee (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $565,000 in Denver vs $225,000 in Milwaukee.
The median home price in Denver is $565,000, which is $340,000 more than Milwaukee's median of $225,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $1,395/month in Denver vs $1,195/month in Milwaukee, a difference of $200/month or $2,400/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $85,200 salary in Denver is equivalent to $63,372 in Milwaukee. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Denver's COL index of 121 vs Milwaukee's 90. Conversely, $56,400 in Milwaukee equals $75,827 in Denver.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $19,799 (23.2% effective rate) in Denver vs $10,791 (19.1% effective rate) in Milwaukee. Property taxes on the median home are $3,108/year in Denver (0.5% rate) vs $4,050/year in Milwaukee (1.8% rate). Sales tax rates are 2.9% in Colorado and 5.0% in Wisconsin.
Denver median household income: $85,200/yr. Milwaukee median household income: $56,400/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $1,395 in Denver vs $1,195 in Milwaukee. Annualized that is $16,740 vs $14,340.
Milwaukee offers a lower cost of living (index 90 vs 121), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Denver typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Denver 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 Denver 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 .