Living Cost Compare
Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,040/mo est.

vs
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/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 $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 37% higher in Raleigh, NC. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Milwaukee, WI
Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio
$841
$1,301
+55% in Raleigh, NC
1 Bedroom
$849
$1,323
+56% in Raleigh, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,031
$1,462
+42% in Raleigh, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,193
$1,715
+44% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$172,000
$377,800
+120% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$51,888
$82,424
+59% in Raleigh, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,160
$51,990
+2% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.2 yr
34.7 yr
+2.5 yr in Raleigh, NC
Homeownership
41.5%
51.2%
+9.7 pp in Raleigh, NC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
26.6%
52.9%
+26.3 pp in Raleigh, NC
Avg Commute
22.4 min
23.4 min
+1.0 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,452.3
491.5
+66% in Milwaukee, WI
Property Crime
2,772.2
2,838.4
+2% in Raleigh, NC

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
60.6°F
+12.7°F in Raleigh, NC
Annual Precipitation
34.8 in
46.0 in
+11.3 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Milwaukee, WI

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.25
$1.25
+44% in Milwaukee, WI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.7
15.1
+24% in Milwaukee, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.79
$27.56
+134% in Raleigh, NC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Milwaukee, WI
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Raleigh, NC
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Milwaukee, WI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Milwaukee, WI
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Milwaukee, WI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / NC)
5%
4.75%
+0.3 pp in WI
Income Tax (top rate)
7.65%
3.99%
+3.7 pp in WI

Milwaukee vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Milwaukee or Raleigh?
Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Milwaukee than in Raleigh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Milwaukee versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Milwaukee or Raleigh?
Milwaukee is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).