Living Cost Compare
Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,540/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 $1,540 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 43% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Milwaukee, WI
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$841
$1,496
+78% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$849
$1,357
+60% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,031
$1,559
+51% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,193
$1,857
+56% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$172,000
$366,300
+113% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$51,888
$90,685
+75% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,160
$49,430
+3% in Milwaukee, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.2 yr
37.4 yr
+5.2 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
41.5%
64.9%
+23.4 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
26.6%
40.4%
+13.8 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Avg Commute
22.4 min
23.2 min
+0.8 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,452.3
96.7
+93% in Milwaukee, WI
Property Crime
2,772.2
1,664.3
+40% 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
59.9°F
+12.0°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
34.8 in
44.3 in
+9.6 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.35/gal
$4.30/gal
+1% in Milwaukee, WI

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.25
$2.00
+11% in Milwaukee, WI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.8
17.1
+9% in Milwaukee, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$9.48
$18.75
+98% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.16
+1% in Virginia Beach, VA
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 / VA)
5%
5.3%
+0.3 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
7.65%
5.75%
+1.9 pp in WI

Milwaukee vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Milwaukee or Virginia Beach?
Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,540, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Milwaukee than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Milwaukee versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Milwaukee or Virginia Beach?
Milwaukee is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).