Living Cost Compare
Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,040/mo est.

vs
Naperville

Illinois

$1,830/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,040 in Milwaukee, WI versus $1,830 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 43% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 66% higher in Naperville, IL. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Milwaukee, WI
Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio
$841
$1,713
+104% in Naperville, IL
1 Bedroom
$849
$1,594
+88% in Naperville, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,031
$1,889
+83% in Naperville, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,193
$2,446
+105% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$172,000
$509,900
+196% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$51,888
$150,937
+191% in Naperville, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,160
$54,720
+7% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.2 yr
40.1 yr
+7.9 yr in Naperville, IL
Homeownership
41.5%
74.3%
+32.8 pp in Naperville, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
26.6%
71.7%
+45.1 pp in Naperville, IL
Avg Commute
22.4 min
31.4 min
+9.0 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,452.3
85.7
+94% in Milwaukee, WI
Property Crime
2,772.2
892.2
+68% 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
47.9°F
49.9°F
+2.0°F in Naperville, IL
Annual Precipitation
34.8 in
36.9 in
+2.1 in in Naperville, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.25
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.7
23.9
+21% in Naperville, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.79
$15.39
+31% in Naperville, IL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / IL)
5%
6.25%
+1.3 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
7.65%
4.95%
+2.7 pp in WI

Milwaukee vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Milwaukee or Naperville?
Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Milwaukee than in Naperville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Milwaukee versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Milwaukee or Naperville?
Milwaukee is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).