Is it cheaper to live in Milwaukee or Warwick?

Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,050 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Warwick, RI's $1,390, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Warwick.

Which has lower taxes, Milwaukee or Warwick?

Milwaukee is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Warwick under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Milwaukee vs Warwick Cost of Living 2026

Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,050/mo est.

Warwick

Rhode Island

$1,390/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,050 in Milwaukee, WI versus $1,390 in Warwick, RI. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Warwick, RI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI and $87,536 in Warwick, RI — about 41% higher in Warwick, RI. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Milwaukee, WI

Warwick, RI

Rent

Studio

$841

$923

+10% in Warwick, RI

1 Bedroom

$849

$1,085

+28% in Warwick, RI

2 Bedroom

$1,031

$1,629

+58% in Warwick, RI

3 Bedroom

$1,193

$1,569

+32% in Warwick, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$172,000

$322,000

+87% in Warwick, RI

Income

Median Household Income

$51,888

$87,536

+69% in Warwick, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,160

$53,680

+5% in Warwick, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

32.2 yr

44.6 yr

+12.4 yr in Warwick, RI

Homeownership

41.5%

73.4%

+31.9 pp in Warwick, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

26.6%

33.2%

+6.6 pp in Warwick, RI

Avg Commute

22.4 min

25.0 min

+2.6 min in Warwick, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,452.3

79.5

+95% in Milwaukee, WI

Property Crime

2,772.2

1,149.5

+59% 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

51.6°F

+3.7°F in Warwick, RI

Annual Precipitation

34.8 in

47.2 in

+12.4 in in Warwick, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Warwick, RI

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.25

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.6

29.2

+49% in Warwick, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.17

$25.75

+42% in Warwick, RI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Warwick, RI

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Milwaukee, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Warwick, RI

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Warwick, RI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Warwick, RI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / RI)

+2.0 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

7.65%

5.99%

+1.7 pp in WI

Milwaukee vs Warwick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Milwaukee or Warwick?: Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,050 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Warwick, RI's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Milwaukee than in Warwick?: 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 Warwick.
Which has lower taxes, Milwaukee or Warwick?: Milwaukee is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Warwick under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).