Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Milwaukee?

Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,050 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Columbia, SC's $1,220, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.

Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Milwaukee?

Columbia 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).

Columbia vs Milwaukee Cost of Living 2026

Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/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 $1,220 in Columbia, SC versus $1,050 in Milwaukee, WI. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbia, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,653 in Columbia, SC and $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI — about 7% higher in Columbia, 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.

Columbia, SC

Milwaukee, WI

Rent

Studio

$802

$841

+5% in Milwaukee, WI

1 Bedroom

$1,026

$849

+17% in Columbia, SC

2 Bedroom

$1,164

$1,031

+11% in Columbia, SC

3 Bedroom

$1,338

$1,193

+11% in Columbia, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$243,500

$172,000

+29% in Columbia, SC

Income

Median Household Income

$55,653

$51,888

+7% in Columbia, SC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,430

$51,160

+10% in Milwaukee, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

32.2 yr

+3.5 yr in Milwaukee, WI

Homeownership

47.3%

41.5%

+5.8 pp in Columbia, SC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.1%

26.6%

+19.5 pp in Columbia, SC

Avg Commute

17.4 min

22.4 min

+5.0 min in Milwaukee, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

769.9

1,452.3

+89% in Milwaukee, WI

Property Crime

3,265.1

2,772.2

+15% in Columbia, SC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

64.9°F

47.9°F

+17.0°F in Columbia, SC

Annual Precipitation

45.4 in

34.8 in

+10.6 in in Columbia, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.85/gal

+2% in Columbia, SC

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)

15.6

19.6

+26% in Milwaukee, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.07

$18.17

+37% in Columbia, 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 Columbia, 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

Columbia vs Milwaukee — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Milwaukee?: Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,050 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Columbia, SC's $1,220, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in Milwaukee?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.
Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Milwaukee?: Columbia 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).