Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Houston 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.
| Houston | Metric | Milwaukee | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | Cost of Living Index | 90 | -10.9% |
| $320,000 | Median Home Price | $225,000 | -29.7% |
| $1,262 | Median Monthly Rent | $1,195 | -5.3% |
| $67,800 | Median Household Income | $56,400 | -16.8% |
| 1.9% | Property Tax Rate | 1.8% | -5.3% |
| 4.2% | Unemployment Rate | 4.6% | +9.5% |
| 29 min | Average Commute | 24 min | -17.2% |
| 34.5 | Median Age | 33.4 | -3.2% |
| 7,470,000 | Metro Population | 1,590,000 | -78.7% |
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 Houston costs $2,218/month (PITI) compared to $1,541/month in Milwaukee — a difference of $677/month or $8,124/year. The price-to-income ratio is 4.7x in Houston versus 4.0x in Milwaukee, suggesting Milwaukee is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 6.3 years to save a down payment in Houston compared to 5.3 years in Milwaukee.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Houston | Milwaukee |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $67,800 | $56,400 |
| State Income Tax | None | $1,837 |
| Federal Income Tax | $6,365 | $4,639 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $5,187 | $4,315 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $6,080/yr | $4,050/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 6.3% | 5.0% |
| Total Tax Burden | $11,552 (17.0%) | $10,791 (19.1%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $56,248 | $45,609 |
Texas has no state income tax, giving Houston residents a significant tax advantage. On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $11,552 in Houston (17.0% effective) versus $10,791 in Milwaukee (19.1% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $56,248 in Houston and $45,609 in Milwaukee. Property taxes add $6,080/year on the median Houston 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 $67,800 in Houston (COL 101) and relocate to Milwaukee (COL 90), you would need $60,416 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you can take a pay cut of $7,384 and still maintain your lifestyle in Milwaukee.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Houston is 29 minutes versus 24 minutes in Milwaukee, a difference of 5 minutes each way. Houston's lower unemployment rate of 4.2% versus 4.6% suggests a stronger job market. Houston skews slightly older with a median age of 34.5 vs 33.4 in Milwaukee.
Houston is 10.9% more expensive than Milwaukee overall. Houston has a cost of living index of 101 compared to 90 for Milwaukee (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $320,000 in Houston vs $225,000 in Milwaukee.
The median home price in Houston is $320,000, which is $95,000 more than Milwaukee's median of $225,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $1,262/month in Houston vs $1,195/month in Milwaukee, a difference of $67/month or $804/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $67,800 salary in Houston is equivalent to $60,416 in Milwaukee. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Houston's COL index of 101 vs Milwaukee's 90. Conversely, $56,400 in Milwaukee equals $63,293 in Houston.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $11,552 (17.0% effective rate) in Houston vs $10,791 (19.1% effective rate) in Milwaukee. Property taxes on the median home are $6,080/year in Houston (1.9% rate) vs $4,050/year in Milwaukee (1.8% rate). Sales tax rates are 6.3% in Texas and 5.0% in Wisconsin.
Houston median household income: $67,800/yr. Milwaukee median household income: $56,400/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $1,262 in Houston vs $1,195 in Milwaukee. Annualized that is $15,144 vs $14,340.
Milwaukee offers a lower cost of living (index 90 vs 101), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Houston typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Houston 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 Houston 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 .