Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Milwaukee?

Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.

Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Milwaukee?

Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Milwaukee under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax).

Charleston vs Milwaukee Cost of Living 2026

Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,040/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,620 in Charleston, SC versus $1,040 in Milwaukee, WI. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI — about 42% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Charleston, SC

Milwaukee, WI

Rent

Studio

$1,579

$841

+47% in Charleston, SC

1 Bedroom

$1,430

$849

+41% in Charleston, SC

2 Bedroom

$1,684

$1,031

+39% in Charleston, SC

3 Bedroom

$2,076

$1,193

+43% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$469,100

$172,000

+63% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income

$90,038

$51,888

+42% in Charleston, SC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,150

$51,160

+4% in Milwaukee, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

32.2 yr

+3.9 yr in Charleston, SC

Homeownership

55.6%

41.5%

+14.1 pp in Charleston, SC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

57.7%

26.6%

+31.1 pp in Charleston, SC

Avg Commute

23.8 min

22.4 min

+1.4 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

358.8

1,452.3

+305% in Milwaukee, WI

Property Crime

2,035.1

2,772.2

+36% 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

66.7°F

47.9°F

+18.8°F in Charleston, SC

Annual Precipitation

44.4 in

34.8 in

+9.7 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Milwaukee, WI

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

19.7

+22% in Milwaukee, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.35

$11.79

+57% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Milwaukee, WI

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Charleston, SC

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Milwaukee, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Milwaukee, WI

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Milwaukee, WI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / WI)

+1.0 pp in SC

Income Tax (top rate)

6.00%

7.65%

+1.7 pp in WI

Charleston vs Milwaukee — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Milwaukee?: Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Milwaukee?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Milwaukee?: Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% 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).