Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Milwaukee?

Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Dallas, TX's $1,470, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.

Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Milwaukee?

Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax 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).

Dallas vs Milwaukee Cost of Living 2026

Dallas

Texas

$1,470/mo est.

Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,470 in Dallas, TX versus $1,030 in Milwaukee, WI. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dallas, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,760 in Dallas, TX and $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI — about 23% higher in Dallas, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Dallas, TX

Milwaukee, WI

Rent

Studio

$1,259

$841

+33% in Dallas, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,280

$849

+34% in Dallas, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,500

$1,031

+31% in Dallas, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,559

$1,193

+23% in Dallas, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$295,300

$172,000

+42% in Dallas, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$67,760

$51,888

+23% in Dallas, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$51,160

+1% in Dallas, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

32.2 yr

+1.2 yr in Dallas, TX

Homeownership

42.4%

41.5%

+0.9 pp in Dallas, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.4%

26.6%

+10.8 pp in Dallas, TX

Avg Commute

26.0 min

22.4 min

+3.6 min in Dallas, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

661.7

1,452.3

+119% in Milwaukee, WI

Property Crime

3,411.8

2,772.2

+19% in Dallas, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

67.2°F

47.9°F

+19.3°F in Dallas, TX

Annual Precipitation

37.6 in

34.8 in

+2.8 in in Dallas, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.96/gal

$4.35/gal

+10% in Milwaukee, WI

Area: Texas vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.50

$2.25

+10% in Dallas, TX

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

18.8

+15% in Milwaukee, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.61

$9.48

+61% in Dallas, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

$4.14

+1% in Dallas, TX

Bread (lb)

$1.73

$1.79

+4% in Milwaukee, WI

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Milwaukee, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

$6.97

+6% in Milwaukee, WI

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.15

+13% in Milwaukee, WI

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

$0.63

+3% in Milwaukee, WI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / WI)

6.25%

+1.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

7.65%

+7.7 pp in WI

Dallas vs Milwaukee — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Milwaukee?: Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Dallas, TX's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dallas than in Milwaukee?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.
Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Milwaukee?: Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax 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).