Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Milwaukee?

Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Columbus, GA's $1,080, mainly because of natural gas costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Columbus versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.

Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Milwaukee?

Columbus is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Milwaukee under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax).

Columbus vs Milwaukee Cost of Living 2026

Columbus

Georgia

$1,080/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 $1,080 in Columbus, GA versus $1,040 in Milwaukee, WI. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, GA, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $56,622 in Columbus, GA and $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI — about 8% higher in Columbus, GA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Columbus, GA

Milwaukee, WI

Rent

Studio

$826

$841

+2% in Milwaukee, WI

1 Bedroom

$875

$849

+3% in Columbus, GA

2 Bedroom

$991

$1,031

+4% in Milwaukee, WI

3 Bedroom

$1,221

$1,193

+2% in Columbus, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$182,300

$172,000

+6% in Columbus, GA

Income

Median Household Income

$56,622

$51,888

+8% in Columbus, GA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$43,540

$51,160

+18% in Milwaukee, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.1 yr

32.2 yr

+2.9 yr in Columbus, GA

Homeownership

50.2%

41.5%

+8.7 pp in Columbus, GA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

29.7%

26.6%

+3.1 pp in Columbus, GA

Avg Commute

20.2 min

22.4 min

+2.2 min in Milwaukee, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

612.3

1,452.3

+137% in Milwaukee, WI

Property Crime

2,273.4

2,772.2

+22% 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

65.7°F

47.9°F

+17.8°F in Columbus, GA

Annual Precipitation

46.8 in

34.8 in

+12.0 in in Columbus, GA

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)

15.8

19.7

+25% in Milwaukee, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$33.28

$11.79

+65% in Columbus, GA

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 Columbus, GA

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 (GA / WI)

+1.0 pp in WI

Income Tax (top rate)

5.19%

7.65%

+2.5 pp in WI

Columbus vs Milwaukee — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Milwaukee?: Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Columbus, GA's $1,080, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Milwaukee?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Columbus versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Milwaukee?: Columbus is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% 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).