Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Milwaukee compared to Appleton? 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.
| Milwaukee | Metric | Appleton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90 | Cost of Living Index | 88 | -2.2% |
| $225,000 | Median Home Price | $235,000 | +4.4% |
| $1,195 | Median Monthly Rent | $900 | -24.7% |
| $56,400 | Median Household Income | $62,500 | +10.8% |
| 1.8% | Property Tax Rate | 2.0% | +11.1% |
| 4.6% | Unemployment Rate | 3.0% | -34.8% |
| 24 min | Average Commute | 19 min | -20.8% |
| 33.4 | Median Age | 35.8 | +7.2% |
| 1,590,000 | Metro Population | 240,000 | -84.9% |
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 Milwaukee costs $1,541/month (PITI) compared to $1,648/month in Appleton — a difference of $107/month or $1,284/year. The price-to-income ratio is 4.0x in Milwaukee versus 3.8x in Appleton, suggesting Appleton is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 5.3 years to save a down payment in Milwaukee compared to 5.0 years in Appleton.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Milwaukee | Appleton |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $56,400 | $62,500 |
| State Income Tax | $1,837 | $2,160 |
| Federal Income Tax | $4,639 | $5,371 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $4,315 | $4,781 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $4,050/yr | $4,700/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 5.0% | 5.0% |
| Total Tax Burden | $10,791 (19.1%) | $12,312 (19.7%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $45,609 | $50,188 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $10,791 in Milwaukee (19.1% effective) versus $12,312 in Appleton (19.7% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $45,609 in Milwaukee and $50,188 in Appleton. Property taxes add $4,050/year on the median Milwaukee home versus $4,700/year in Appleton.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $56,400 in Milwaukee (COL 90) and relocate to Appleton (COL 88), you would need $55,147 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you can take a pay cut of $1,253 and still maintain your lifestyle in Appleton.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Milwaukee is 24 minutes versus 19 minutes in Appleton, a difference of 5 minutes each way. Appleton's lower unemployment rate of 3.0% versus 4.6% suggests a stronger job market. Appleton skews slightly older with a median age of 35.8 vs 33.4 in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee is 2.2% more expensive than Appleton overall. Milwaukee has a cost of living index of 90 compared to 88 for Appleton (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $225,000 in Milwaukee vs $235,000 in Appleton.
The median home price in Milwaukee is $225,000, which is $10,000 more than Appleton's median of $235,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $1,195/month in Milwaukee vs $900/month in Appleton, a difference of $295/month or $3,540/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $56,400 salary in Milwaukee is equivalent to $55,147 in Appleton. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Milwaukee's COL index of 90 vs Appleton's 88. Conversely, $62,500 in Appleton equals $63,920 in Milwaukee.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $10,791 (19.1% effective rate) in Milwaukee vs $12,312 (19.7% effective rate) in Appleton. Property taxes on the median home are $4,050/year in Milwaukee (1.8% rate) vs $4,700/year in Appleton (2.0% rate). Sales tax rates are 5.0% in Wisconsin and 5.0% in Wisconsin.
Milwaukee median household income: $56,400/yr. Appleton median household income: $62,500/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $1,195 in Milwaukee vs $900 in Appleton. Annualized that is $14,340 vs $10,800.
Appleton offers a lower cost of living (index 88 vs 90), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Milwaukee typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Milwaukee and Appleton 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 Milwaukee vs Appleton 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 .