Moving from Madison to Milwaukee
Your paycheck buys about the same in Milwaukee as in Madison. Compare taxes, rent, home prices and the cost of the move.
Equal salary in Milwaukee: $89,600
Compare any two of 149 U.S. metro areas. All cities
To keep the same lifestyle, you need about $89,600 in Milwaukee, WI to match $90,000 in Madison, WI ($400 less), after 2026 taxes and local prices.
Single filer, W-2 salary. Both are in Wisconsin, so state income tax is the same; neither city levies a resident income tax.
Madison vs Milwaukee: key facts
- Median rent
- $1,437 → $1,177/mo
- Median home value
- $415,500 → $331,100
- Median household income
- $89,714 → $77,919
- Price level (U.S. = 100)
- 97.3 → 96.9
- Natural hazard risk (FEMA)
- Among the highest (87.8 → 90.5 of 100)
Madison vs Milwaukee cost of living
The vertical line marks the U.S. average (100).
| Measure | Madison, WI | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| Overall price level (U.S. = 100) | 97.3 | 96.9 |
| Median rent | $1,437 | $1,177 |
| Income to rent affordably (30%) | $57,480 | $47,080 |
| Median home value | $415,500 | $331,100 |
| Monthly cost to own (20% down) | $2,792 | $2,201 |
| Income needed to buy | $119,674 | $94,316 |
| Median property tax | $5,977 | $4,240 |
| State income tax on $90,000 | $3,834 | $3,834 |
| Metro population | 707,606 | 1,574,452 |
Metro-area figures (Census ACS 2024, BEA 2024). Taxes use each metro's principal state.
Your yearly budget: Madison vs Milwaukee
On a $90,000 salary, taxes, housing, electricity, one car and health insurance for one adult come to $50,632 a year in Madison and $47,512 in Milwaukee if you rent: $3,120 less after the move. If you buy the median home, they come to $66,897 and $59,796 ($7,101 less).
Your yearly budget, before vs after
| Yearly cost | MadisonBefore | MilwaukeeAfter | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income and payroll taxes on $90,000, single filer | $21,689 | $21,689 | $0 |
| Electricity state average bill | $1,330 | $1,330 | $0 |
| Car insurance one car, state average | $922 | $922 | $0 |
| Gas 12,000 miles at 25 mpg | $2,115 | $2,115 | $0 |
| Health insurance one adult, age 40, own plan before subsidies | $7,332 | $7,332 | $0 |
| If you rent | |||
| Rent median, 12 months | $17,244 | $14,124 | -$3,120 |
| Total if you rent | $50,632 | $47,512 | -$3,120 |
| If you buy the median home (20% down) | |||
| Mortgage payment median home, 20% down, 6.95% | $26,404 | $21,040 | -$5,364 |
| Property tax median home | $5,977 | $4,240 | -$1,737 |
| Homeowners insurance state median, with a mortgage | $1,128 | $1,128 | $0 |
| Total if you buy | $66,897 | $59,796 | -$7,101 |
Taxes: 2026 federal and state rules, plus the principal city's resident income tax where it has one, standard deduction. Rent, home value and property tax: Census ACS 2024 metro-area medians. Mortgage: Freddie Mac 30-year average (6.95%, week of September 17, 2026).
State figures for the principal state: EIA 2024 average residential power bill, NAIC 2023 auto insurance (average per car), Census ACS 2024 homeowners insurance (median for owners with a mortgage; premiums have risen since), AAA regular gas on September 23, 2026, and the KFF 2026 benchmark silver Marketplace premium. Job-based health coverage usually costs you less, and in 2026 incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level can get a premium tax credit.
Not included: sales tax (combined state and local rates are not in our data yet), food, car payments and other spending.
Child care is not in the totals. Full-time center care for one infant averages $17,963 a year in Madison and $17,963 in Milwaukee (Child Care Aware of America, 2024 state averages).
Who moves from Madison to Milwaukee
About 1,308 households (1,697 people) moved from the Madison metro area to the Milwaukee metro area in 2022–2023, making Milwaukee the #1 destination for people leaving Madison among the 149 metro areas we cover. 1,347 households moved the other way. Their average adjusted gross income was $65,723.
Cost to move from Madison to Milwaukee
| Moving method (2–3 bedrooms) | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Rental truck (DIY) | $310–$600 |
| Moving container | $1,090–$2,030 |
| Full-service movers | $1,830–$4,860 |
At about 90 miles, this move is shorter than the long-distance routes these ranges are modeled on. A move this short is often priced by the hour, so quotes can come in lower.
Natural hazard risk: Madison vs Milwaukee
FEMA's National Risk Index rates the Madison area among the highest (score 87.8) and the Milwaukee area among the highest (score 90.5), on a 0–100 national percentile scale. Expected yearly losses from natural hazards average $385 vs $357 per resident.
The vertical line marks the middle of U.S. counties (50).
The vertical line marks the middle of U.S. counties (50).
Frequently asked questions
Is Milwaukee cheaper than Madison?
Overall prices in the Milwaukee area are 0.4% lower than in Madison (BEA Regional Price Parities 2024). Median rent is $1,177 vs $1,437 a month, and the median home is $331,100 vs $415,500.
What salary do I need in Milwaukee to match $100,000 in Madison?
About $99,500, after 2026 federal taxes and local prices. Both are in Wisconsin, so state income tax is the same.
How much does it cost to move from Madison to Milwaukee?
For a 2–3 bedroom home over about 90 miles: roughly $310–$600 with a rental truck, $1,090–$2,030 with a container, or $1,830–$4,860 with full-service movers. A move this short is often priced by the hour, so quotes can come in lower.
How many people move from Madison to Milwaukee?
IRS county migration data for 2022–2023 show about 1,308 households (1,697 people) moved from the Madison metro area to the Milwaukee metro area, and 1,347 moved the other way.
Related
Where people from Madison move
- Chicago 995 households
- Minneapolis 601 households
- Denver 257 households
- Seattle 256 households
- New York 228 households
- San Francisco 187 households
- Dallas 187 households
- Los Angeles 178 households