Is it cheaper to live in Milwaukee or Portland?

Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Portland, OR's $1,600, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Milwaukee versus $58,000 in Portland.

Which has lower taxes, Milwaukee or Portland?

Milwaukee is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Milwaukee vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,030/mo est.

Portland

Oregon

$1,600/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 $1,600 in Portland, OR. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 42% higher in Portland, OR. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Milwaukee, WI

Portland, OR

Rent

Studio

$841

$1,294

+54% in Portland, OR

1 Bedroom

$849

$1,440

+70% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,031

$1,741

+69% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,193

$2,053

+72% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$172,000

$557,600

+224% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$51,888

$88,792

+71% in Portland, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,160

$60,690

+19% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

32.2 yr

38.6 yr

+6.4 yr in Portland, OR

Homeownership

41.5%

52.8%

+11.3 pp in Portland, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

26.6%

53.5%

+26.9 pp in Portland, OR

Avg Commute

22.4 min

24.6 min

+2.2 min in Portland, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,452.3

731.7

+50% in Milwaukee, WI

Property Crime

2,772.2

5,605.5

+102% in Portland, OR

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

54.5°F

+6.6°F in Portland, OR

Annual Precipitation

34.8 in

42.9 in

+8.1 in in Portland, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.35/gal

$5.57/gal

+28% in Portland, OR

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.25

$2.80

+24% in Portland, OR

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

18.8

14.9

+21% in Milwaukee, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$9.48

$17.98

+90% in Portland, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.14

$4.37

+6% in Portland, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.79

$2.10

+17% in Portland, OR

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.25

+38% in Milwaukee, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.97

$7.23

+4% in Portland, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.15

$2.14

+1% in Milwaukee, WI

Bananas (lb)

$0.63

$0.74

+18% in Portland, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / OR)

None

+5.0 pp in WI

Income Tax (top rate)

7.65%

9.90%

+2.3 pp in OR

Milwaukee vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Milwaukee or Portland?: Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Portland, OR's $1,600, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Milwaukee than in Portland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Milwaukee versus $58,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Milwaukee or Portland?: Milwaukee is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).