Living Cost Compare
Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,030/mo est.

vs
San Antonio

Texas

$1,270/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 $1,270 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Antonio, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI and $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — about 18% higher in San Antonio, TX. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Milwaukee, WI
San Antonio, TX

Rent

Studio
$841
$1,052
+25% in San Antonio, TX
1 Bedroom
$849
$1,084
+28% in San Antonio, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,031
$1,327
+29% in San Antonio, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,193
$1,545
+30% in San Antonio, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$172,000
$219,700
+28% in San Antonio, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$51,888
$62,917
+21% in San Antonio, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,160
$47,010
+8% in Milwaukee, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.2 yr
34.6 yr
+2.4 yr in San Antonio, TX
Homeownership
41.5%
52.4%
+10.9 pp in San Antonio, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
26.6%
28.7%
+2.1 pp in San Antonio, TX
Avg Commute
22.4 min
24.6 min
+2.2 min in San Antonio, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,452.3
605
+58% in Milwaukee, WI
Property Crime
2,772.2
4,665
+68% in San Antonio, TX

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
68.5°F
+20.6°F in San Antonio, TX
Annual Precipitation
34.8 in
34.9 in
+0.1 in in San Antonio, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.35/gal
$3.96/gal
+9% in Milwaukee, WI

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.25
$1.30
+42% in Milwaukee, WI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.8
16.4
+13% in Milwaukee, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$9.48
$24.61
+160% in San Antonio, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.16
+1% in San Antonio, TX
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$1.73
+3% in Milwaukee, WI
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Milwaukee, WI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$6.56
+6% in Milwaukee, WI
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$1.90
+12% in Milwaukee, WI
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.61
+3% in Milwaukee, WI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / TX)
5%
6.25%
+1.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
7.65%
None
+7.7 pp in WI

Milwaukee vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Milwaukee or San Antonio?
Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below San Antonio, TX's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Milwaukee than in San Antonio?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Milwaukee versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Milwaukee or San Antonio?
Milwaukee is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); San Antonio under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).