Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,040 in Milwaukee, WI versus $1,030 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, St. Louis, MO is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Milwaukee, WI, driven mainly by electricity costs.
Median household income is $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 6% higher in St. Louis, MO. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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 Midwest (PADD 2).
Public Transit
Adult base one-way fare — MCTS vs — (2026).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — Midwest vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Milwaukee vs St. Louis — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Milwaukee or St. Louis?
- St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Milwaukee, WI's $1,040, mainly because of electricity costs.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Milwaukee than in St. Louis?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Milwaukee versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
- Which has lower taxes, Milwaukee or St. Louis?
- Milwaukee is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).