Living Cost Compare
Louisville

Kentucky

$1,040/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 $1,040 in Louisville, KY versus $1,030 in Milwaukee, WI. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Louisville, KY, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $64,731 in Louisville, KY and $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI — about 20% higher in Louisville, KY. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Louisville, KY
Milwaukee, WI

Rent

Studio
$786
$841
+7% in Milwaukee, WI
1 Bedroom
$877
$849
+3% in Louisville, KY
2 Bedroom
$1,096
$1,031
+6% in Louisville, KY
3 Bedroom
$1,299
$1,193
+8% in Louisville, KY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$221,500
$172,000
+22% in Louisville, KY

Income

Median Household Income
$64,731
$51,888
+20% in Louisville, KY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,370
$51,160
+6% in Milwaukee, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.7 yr
32.2 yr
+5.5 yr in Louisville, KY
Homeownership
60.6%
41.5%
+19.1 pp in Louisville, KY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.4%
26.6%
+6.8 pp in Louisville, KY
Avg Commute
22.7 min
22.4 min
+0.3 min in Louisville, KY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
761.5
1,452.3
+91% in Milwaukee, WI
Property Crime
3,535.4
2,772.2
+22% in Louisville, KY

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
58.2°F
47.9°F
+10.3°F in Louisville, KY
Annual Precipitation
44.9 in
34.8 in
+10.1 in in Louisville, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.35/gal
$4.35/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
18.8
+26% in Milwaukee, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.12
$9.48
+50% in Louisville, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.14
+1% in Louisville, KY
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 (KY / WI)
6%
5%
+1.0 pp in KY
Income Tax (top rate)
3.50%
7.65%
+4.2 pp in WI

Louisville vs Milwaukee — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Louisville or Milwaukee?
Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Louisville, KY's $1,040, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Louisville than in Milwaukee?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Louisville versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.
Which has lower taxes, Louisville or Milwaukee?
Louisville is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% 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).