Living Cost Compare
El Paso

Texas

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,010 in El Paso, TX versus $1,030 in Milwaukee, WI. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Milwaukee, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso, TX and $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI — about 12% higher in El Paso, 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.

El Paso, TX
Milwaukee, WI

Rent

Studio
$707
$841
+19% in Milwaukee, WI
1 Bedroom
$816
$849
+4% in Milwaukee, WI
2 Bedroom
$993
$1,031
+4% in Milwaukee, WI
3 Bedroom
$1,252
$1,193
+5% in El Paso, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$171,700
$172,000
+0% in Milwaukee, WI

Income

Median Household Income
$58,734
$51,888
+12% in El Paso, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,510
$51,160
+29% in Milwaukee, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
32.2 yr
+1.9 yr in El Paso, TX
Homeownership
60.2%
41.5%
+18.7 pp in El Paso, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.5%
26.6%
+0.9 pp in El Paso, TX
Avg Commute
23.7 min
22.4 min
+1.3 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.7
1,452.3
+354% in Milwaukee, WI
Property Crime
1,509.3
2,772.2
+84% 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
64.6°F
47.9°F
+16.7°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
9.7 in
34.8 in
+25.0 in in Milwaukee, WI

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)
$1.50
$2.25
+50% in Milwaukee, WI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
18.8
+15% in Milwaukee, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.61
$9.48
+61% in El Paso, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.14
+1% in El Paso, 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%
5%
+1.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
7.65%
+7.7 pp in WI

El Paso vs Milwaukee — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in El Paso or Milwaukee?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Milwaukee, WI's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in El Paso than in Milwaukee?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in El Paso versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.
Which has lower taxes, El Paso or Milwaukee?
El Paso 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).