Living Cost Compare
Los Angeles

California

$2,010/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 $2,010 in Los Angeles, CA versus $1,030 in Milwaukee, WI. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 49% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI — about 35% higher in Los Angeles, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Los Angeles, CA
Milwaukee, WI

Rent

Studio
$1,468
$841
+43% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,688
$849
+50% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,148
$1,031
+52% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,489
$1,193
+52% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$879,500
$172,000
+80% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$80,366
$51,888
+35% in Los Angeles, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$51,160
+8% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
32.2 yr
+4.7 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
36.3%
41.5%
+5.2 pp in Milwaukee, WI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.8%
26.6%
+11.2 pp in Los Angeles, CA
Avg Commute
31.1 min
22.4 min
+8.7 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
730.5
1,452.3
+99% in Milwaukee, WI
Property Crime
1,501.2
2,772.2
+85% 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
67.0°F
47.9°F
+19.1°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
21.2 in
34.8 in
+13.5 in in Milwaukee, WI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.89/gal
$4.35/gal
+26% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$2.25
+29% in Milwaukee, WI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
18.8
+44% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$9.48
+54% in Los Angeles, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.14
+5% in Los Angeles, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.79
+15% in Los Angeles, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$3.63
+61% in Milwaukee, WI
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.97
+4% in Los Angeles, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.15
+1% in Milwaukee, WI
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.63
+15% in Los Angeles, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / WI)
7.25%
5%
+2.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
7.65%
+5.7 pp in CA

Los Angeles vs Milwaukee — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Los Angeles or Milwaukee?
Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 49% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Los Angeles than in Milwaukee?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $68,000 a year in Los Angeles versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.
Which has lower taxes, Los Angeles or Milwaukee?
Los Angeles is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).