What is the average rent in Milwaukee?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Milwaukee city centre costs approximately USD 1,726 per month. Outside the centre, rent drops to USD 1,168 (saving 32%). A 3-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around USD 2,785.

Is Milwaukee affordable to live in?

Milwaukee is expensive by global standards. Groceries are average, restaurants are affordable, and local purchasing power is average.

🇺🇸 WI, United States · 2026

Cost of Living in Milwaukee

Q: How expensive is Milwaukee compared to the rest of United States?

Milwaukee ranks #154 out of 577 cities globally. It is 14.4% cheaper than the United States average, based on 82 cities. The rent index is 34.5 and local purchasing power is 136.3.

14.4% below the United States average

Ranked #154 of 577 cities · More expensive than 73.3% of cities worldwide

-14.4%

Cost of Living

-16.5%

Rent

-7.0%

Groceries

-5.5%

Purchasing Power

Compared to United States average · See United States ranking →

Rent Prices in Milwaukee

Apartment	City Centre	Outside Centre	You Save
1-Bedroom	USD 1,726/mo	USD 1,168/mo	32%
3-Bedroom	USD 2,785/mo	USD 1,830/mo	34%

Numbeo · 2026-10-02

Prices of Goods & Services in Milwaukee

Groceries

Item	Price	Sources
Apples (1kg)	$3.95	2 sources
Beer (0.5L, supermarket)	$3.17	2 sources
Bread (500g)	$2.71	2 sources
Local cheese (1kg)	$11.05	2 sources
Chicken (1kg)	$12.87	2 sources
Cigarettes (Marlboro)	$10.37	2 sources
Eggs (12)	$4.60	1 source
Milk (1L)	$0.90	2 sources
Potatoes (1kg)	$1.44	1 source
Tomatoes (1kg)	$2.68	1 source
Wine (mid-range)	$16.30	2 sources

Apples (1kg)

$3.95

Beer (0.5L, supermarket)

$3.17

Bread (500g)

$2.71

Local cheese (1kg)

$11.05

Chicken (1kg)

$12.87

Cigarettes (Marlboro)

$10.37

Eggs (12)

$4.60

Milk (1L)

$0.90

Potatoes (1kg)

$1.44

Tomatoes (1kg)

$2.68

Wine (mid-range)

$16.30

Restaurants

Item	Price	Sources
Draft beer (0.5L)	$5.49	2 sources
Cappuccino	$4.88	1 source
McMeal	$10.00	1 source
Cheap meal	$17.00	2 sources
Mid-range dinner (2 people)	$70.50	2 sources

Draft beer (0.5L)

$5.49

Cappuccino

$4.88

McMeal

$10.00

Cheap meal

$17.00

Mid-range dinner (2 people)

$70.50

Clothing & Shoes

Item	Price	Sources
Business shoes (leather)	$91.00	1 source
Jeans (Levi's 501)	$40.00	1 source
Sport shoes (Nike)	$81.78	2 sources
Summer dress (Zara/H&M)	$46.43	2 sources

Business shoes (leather)

$91.00

Jeans (Levi's 501)

$40.00

Sport shoes (Nike)

$81.78

Summer dress (Zara/H&M)

$46.43

Leisure

Item	Price	Sources
Cinema ticket	$12.86	2 sources
Gym membership	$43.81	2 sources

Cinema ticket

$12.86

Gym membership

$43.81

Transportation

Item	Price	Sources
Gasoline (1L)	$0.88	2 sources
Taxi start	$2.80	1 source
Monthly pass	$75.50	2 sources

Gasoline (1L)

$0.88

Taxi start

$2.80

Monthly pass

$75.50

Utilities

Item	Price	Sources
Basic utilities (85m²)	$193.51	2 sources

Basic utilities (85m²)

$193.51

Prices in local currency, cross-referenced from multiple independent sources. October 2026.

Multi-Source Comparison

★★★ High Confidence

Milwaukee has a cost of living index of 49.4 (New York = 100, rent included), the average of 3 of 3 data sources.

49.4

Index

Sources

5.4

Gap between sources

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Numbeo

52.4

Expatistan

47.0

LivingCost

48.7

ShouldIMove price index

No data

ShouldIMove price index: our own basket of real item prices plus rent.

View all 577 cities

Cost Indices

Cost of Living

-14.4% Affordable

Rent

-16.5% Affordable

Groceries

-7.0% Average

Restaurants

-10.6% Affordable

Purchasing Power

-5.5% Average

Living in Milwaukee: What to Expect

Milwaukee is expensive by global standards (ranked #154 of 577 cities). It is 14.4% cheaper than the United States average, based on 82 cities.

Groceries are average and dining out is affordable. The best value is rent and the priciest is groceries.

Local purchasing power is strong: residents can afford more goods and services than in most cities.

Cost of Living in Milwaukee

Rent Prices in Milwaukee

Prices of Goods & Services in Milwaukee

Groceries

Restaurants

Clothing & Shoes

Leisure

Transportation

Utilities

Multi-Source Comparison

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Cost Indices

Living in Milwaukee: What to Expect

How Does Milwaukee Compare?

Planning a Move to Milwaukee?