Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Milwaukee, WI versus $1,430 in Phoenix, AZ. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Phoenix, AZ, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI and $77,041 in Phoenix, AZ — about 33% higher in Phoenix, AZ. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).
Public Transit
Adult base one-way fare — MCTS vs Valley Metro (2026).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — Midwest vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Milwaukee vs Phoenix — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Milwaukee or Phoenix?
- Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Phoenix, AZ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Milwaukee than in Phoenix?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Milwaukee versus $50,000 in Phoenix.
- Which has lower taxes, Milwaukee or Phoenix?
- Milwaukee is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Phoenix under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).