Is it cheaper to live in Little Rock or Milwaukee?

Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Little Rock, AR's $1,080, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Little Rock versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.

Which has lower taxes, Little Rock or Milwaukee?

Little Rock is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Milwaukee under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax).

Little Rock vs Milwaukee Cost of Living 2026

Little Rock

Arkansas

$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 Little Rock, AR versus $1,040 in Milwaukee, WI. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Little Rock, AR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,583 in Little Rock, AR and $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI — about 14% higher in Little Rock, AR. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Little Rock, AR

Milwaukee, WI

Rent

Studio

$981

$841

+14% in Little Rock, AR

1 Bedroom

$904

$849

+6% in Little Rock, AR

2 Bedroom

$1,064

$1,031

+3% in Little Rock, AR

3 Bedroom

$1,292

$1,193

+8% in Little Rock, AR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$221,200

$172,000

+22% in Little Rock, AR

Income

Median Household Income

$60,583

$51,888

+14% in Little Rock, AR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$45,790

$51,160

+12% in Milwaukee, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.4 yr

32.2 yr

+4.2 yr in Little Rock, AR

Homeownership

54.2%

41.5%

+12.7 pp in Little Rock, AR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.0%

26.6%

+17.4 pp in Little Rock, AR

Avg Commute

18.3 min

22.4 min

+4.1 min in Milwaukee, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,673

1,452.3

+13% in Little Rock, AR

Property Crime

5,251.5

2,772.2

+47% in Little Rock, AR

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

62.7°F

47.9°F

+14.8°F in Little Rock, AR

Annual Precipitation

49.8 in

34.8 in

+15.0 in in Little Rock, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Milwaukee, WI

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.4

19.7

+37% in Milwaukee, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$25.93

$11.79

+55% in Little Rock, AR

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 Little Rock, AR

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 (AR / WI)

6.5%

+1.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

7.65%

+3.8 pp in WI

Little Rock vs Milwaukee — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Little Rock or Milwaukee?: Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Little Rock, AR's $1,080, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Little Rock than in Milwaukee?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Little Rock versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.
Which has lower taxes, Little Rock or Milwaukee?: Little Rock is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% 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).