Is it cheaper to live in Mesa or Milwaukee?

Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Mesa, AZ's $1,460, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Mesa versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.

Which has lower taxes, Mesa or Milwaukee?

Mesa is taxed under Arizona's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax); Milwaukee under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax).

Mesa vs Milwaukee Cost of Living 2026

Mesa

Arizona

$1,460/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 $1,460 in Mesa, AZ versus $1,030 in Milwaukee, WI. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Mesa, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,779 in Mesa, AZ and $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI — about 34% higher in Mesa, AZ. Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Mesa, AZ

Milwaukee, WI

Rent

Studio

$1,209

$841

+30% in Mesa, AZ

1 Bedroom

$1,288

$849

+34% in Mesa, AZ

2 Bedroom

$1,458

$1,031

+29% in Mesa, AZ

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$1,193

+34% in Mesa, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$364,300

$172,000

+53% in Mesa, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$78,779

$51,888

+34% in Mesa, AZ

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,380

$51,160

+0% in Mesa, AZ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.2 yr

32.2 yr

+5.0 yr in Mesa, AZ

Homeownership

64.4%

41.5%

+22.9 pp in Mesa, AZ

Bachelor's+ (25+)

31.5%

26.6%

+4.9 pp in Mesa, AZ

Avg Commute

25.0 min

22.4 min

+2.6 min in Mesa, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

485.8

1,452.3

+199% in Milwaukee, WI

Property Crime

1,487.8

2,772.2

+86% 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

75.1°F

47.9°F

+27.2°F in Mesa, AZ

Annual Precipitation

8.0 in

34.8 in

+26.7 in in Milwaukee, WI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.57/gal

$4.35/gal

+22% in Mesa, AZ

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

$2.25

+13% in Milwaukee, WI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.6

18.8

+21% in Milwaukee, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$19.69

$9.48

+52% in Mesa, AZ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

$4.14

+5% in Mesa, AZ

Bread (lb)

$2.10

$1.79

+15% in Mesa, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

$3.63

+61% in Milwaukee, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

$6.97

+4% in Mesa, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

$2.15

+1% in Milwaukee, WI

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

$0.63

+15% in Mesa, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AZ / WI)

5.6%

+0.6 pp in AZ

Income Tax (top rate)

2.50%

7.65%

+5.2 pp in WI

Mesa vs Milwaukee — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Mesa or Milwaukee?: Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Mesa, AZ's $1,460, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Mesa than in Milwaukee?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Mesa versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.
Which has lower taxes, Mesa or Milwaukee?: Mesa is taxed under Arizona's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).