Living Cost Compare
Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,040/mo est.

vs
Salt Lake City

Utah

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Salt Lake City, UT. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Salt Lake City, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI and $74,925 in Salt Lake City, UT — about 31% higher in Salt Lake City, UT. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Milwaukee, WI
Salt Lake City, UT

Rent

Studio
$841
$997
+19% in Salt Lake City, UT
1 Bedroom
$849
$1,166
+37% in Salt Lake City, UT
2 Bedroom
$1,031
$1,461
+42% in Salt Lake City, UT
3 Bedroom
$1,193
$1,993
+67% in Salt Lake City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$172,000
$495,700
+188% in Salt Lake City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$51,888
$74,925
+44% in Salt Lake City, UT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,160
$55,240
+8% in Salt Lake City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.2 yr
33.0 yr
+0.8 yr in Salt Lake City, UT
Homeownership
41.5%
46.8%
+5.3 pp in Salt Lake City, UT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
26.6%
50.9%
+24.3 pp in Salt Lake City, UT
Avg Commute
22.4 min
19.6 min
+2.8 min in Milwaukee, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,452.3
878.8
+39% in Milwaukee, WI
Property Crime
2,772.2
5,257.3
+90% in Salt Lake City, UT

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
52.8°F
+4.9°F in Salt Lake City, UT
Annual Precipitation
34.8 in
16.1 in
+18.7 in in Milwaukee, WI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.29/gal
+9% in Salt Lake City, UT

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.25
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.7
13.0
+34% in Milwaukee, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.79
$10.26
+13% in Milwaukee, WI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Salt Lake City, UT
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Salt Lake City, UT
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Milwaukee, WI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Salt Lake City, UT
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Milwaukee, WI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Salt Lake City, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / UT)
5%
6.1%
+1.1 pp in UT
Income Tax (top rate)
7.65%
4.50%
+3.2 pp in WI

Milwaukee vs Salt Lake City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Milwaukee or Salt Lake City?
Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Salt Lake City, UT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Milwaukee than in Salt Lake City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Milwaukee versus $47,000 in Salt Lake City.
Which has lower taxes, Milwaukee or Salt Lake City?
Milwaukee is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Salt Lake City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).