Is it cheaper to live in Milwaukee or Tampa?

Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Milwaukee than in Tampa?

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 Tampa.

Which has lower taxes, Milwaukee or Tampa?

Milwaukee is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax).

Milwaukee vs Tampa Cost of Living 2026

Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,030/mo est.

Tampa

Florida

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 27% higher in Tampa, FL. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Milwaukee, WI

Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio

$841

$1,242

+48% in Tampa, FL

1 Bedroom

$849

$1,324

+56% in Tampa, FL

2 Bedroom

$1,031

$1,673

+62% in Tampa, FL

3 Bedroom

$1,193

$1,729

+45% in Tampa, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$172,000

$375,300

+118% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income

$51,888

$71,302

+37% in Tampa, FL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,160

$48,940

+4% in Milwaukee, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

32.2 yr

35.6 yr

+3.4 yr in Tampa, FL

Homeownership

41.5%

50.2%

+8.7 pp in Tampa, FL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

26.6%

44.6%

+18.0 pp in Tampa, FL

Avg Commute

22.4 min

24.7 min

+2.3 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,452.3

443.4

+69% in Milwaukee, WI

Property Crime

2,772.2

1,473.2

+47% in Milwaukee, WI

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

73.4°F

+25.5°F in Tampa, FL

Annual Precipitation

34.8 in

46.3 in

+11.5 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.35/gal

$4.25/gal

+2% in Milwaukee, WI

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.25

$2.00

+11% in Milwaukee, WI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

18.8

14.9

+21% in Milwaukee, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$9.48

$23.62

+149% in Tampa, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.14

$4.16

+1% in Tampa, FL

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 / FL)

+1.0 pp in FL

Income Tax (top rate)

7.65%

None

+7.7 pp in WI

Milwaukee vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Milwaukee or Tampa?: Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Milwaukee than in Tampa?: 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 Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Milwaukee or Tampa?: Milwaukee is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% 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).