Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Milwaukee, WI versus $2,560 in Santa Ana, CA. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 60% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Santa Ana, CA, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI and $109,739 in Santa Ana, CA — about 53% higher in Santa Ana, CA. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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 Los Angeles.
Public Transit
Adult base one-way fare — MCTS vs OCTA (2026).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — Midwest vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Milwaukee vs Santa Ana — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Milwaukee or Santa Ana?
- Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 60% below Santa Ana, CA's $2,560, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Milwaukee than in Santa Ana?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Milwaukee versus $89,000 in Santa Ana.
- Which has lower taxes, Milwaukee or Santa Ana?
- Milwaukee is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Santa Ana under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).