Living Cost Compare
Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,400/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Milwaukee, WI versus $1,400 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 15% higher in Philadelphia, PA. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Milwaukee, WI
Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio
$841
$1,126
+34% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$849
$1,189
+40% in Philadelphia, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,031
$1,394
+35% in Philadelphia, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,193
$1,406
+18% in Philadelphia, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$172,000
$232,400
+35% in Philadelphia, PA

Income

Median Household Income
$51,888
$60,698
+17% in Philadelphia, PA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,160
$54,310
+6% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.2 yr
35.1 yr
+2.9 yr in Philadelphia, PA
Homeownership
41.5%
52.3%
+10.8 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
26.6%
34.6%
+8.0 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Avg Commute
22.4 min
32.0 min
+9.6 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,452.3
916.8
+37% in Milwaukee, WI
Property Crime
2,772.2
4,614.3
+66% in Philadelphia, PA

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
57.1°F
+9.2°F in Philadelphia, PA
Annual Precipitation
34.8 in
48.5 in
+13.8 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.35/gal
$4.30/gal
+1% in Milwaukee, WI

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.25
$2.50
+11% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.8
20.9
+11% in Philadelphia, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$9.48
$16.67
+76% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.14
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$1.92
+7% in Philadelphia, PA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.25
+38% in Milwaukee, WI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$6.90
+1% in Milwaukee, WI
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$2.02
+6% in Milwaukee, WI
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.68
+7% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / PA)
5%
6%
+1.0 pp in PA
Income Tax (top rate)
7.65%
3.07%
+4.6 pp in WI

Milwaukee vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Milwaukee or Philadelphia?
Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,400, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Milwaukee than in Philadelphia?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Milwaukee versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Milwaukee or Philadelphia?
Milwaukee is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).