Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Milwaukee?

Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,050 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 63% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Milwaukee?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.

Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Milwaukee?

Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Milwaukee under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax).

Cambridge vs Milwaukee Cost of Living 2026

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,050/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,810 in Cambridge, MA versus $1,050 in Milwaukee, WI. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 63% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI — about 59% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA

Milwaukee, WI

Rent

Studio

$2,236

$841

+62% in Cambridge, MA

1 Bedroom

$2,496

$849

+66% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,980

$1,031

+65% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$3,325

$1,193

+64% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$1,040,500

$172,000

+83% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$126,469

$51,888

+59% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

$51,160

+23% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

30.5 yr

32.2 yr

+1.7 yr in Milwaukee, WI

Homeownership

33.7%

41.5%

+7.8 pp in Milwaukee, WI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

80.2%

26.6%

+53.6 pp in Cambridge, MA

Avg Commute

26.1 min

22.4 min

+3.7 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

436.7

1,452.3

+233% in Milwaukee, WI

Property Crime

2,657.6

2,772.2

+4% in Milwaukee, WI

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

51.5°F

47.9°F

+3.6°F in Cambridge, MA

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

34.8 in

+9.0 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.07/gal

$3.85/gal

+5% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs MCTS (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

19.6

+34% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.66

$18.17

+41% in Cambridge, MA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Cambridge, MA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Milwaukee, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Cambridge, MA

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Cambridge, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Cambridge, MA

Average prices — Northeast vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / WI)

6.25%

+1.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

7.65%

+1.3 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Milwaukee — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Milwaukee?: Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,050 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 63% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Milwaukee?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Milwaukee?: Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Milwaukee under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).