Living Cost Compare
Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,040/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,040 in Milwaukee, WI versus $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 6% higher in Wilmington, DE. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Milwaukee, WI
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$841
$1,103
+31% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$849
$1,024
+21% in Wilmington, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,031
$1,213
+18% in Wilmington, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,193
$1,394
+17% in Wilmington, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$172,000
$224,500
+31% in Wilmington, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$51,888
$55,269
+7% in Wilmington, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,160
$54,310
+6% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.2 yr
37.0 yr
+4.8 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
41.5%
46.0%
+4.5 pp in Wilmington, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
26.6%
33.1%
+6.5 pp in Wilmington, DE
Avg Commute
22.4 min
23.0 min
+0.6 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,452.3
1,138.2
+22% in Milwaukee, WI
Property Crime
2,772.2
3,182.4
+15% in Wilmington, DE

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
54.9°F
+7.0°F in Wilmington, DE
Annual Precipitation
34.8 in
43.1 in
+8.3 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Milwaukee, WI

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)
19.7
19.4
+2% in Milwaukee, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.79
$22.51
+91% in Wilmington, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Milwaukee, WI
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Wilmington, DE
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Milwaukee, WI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Milwaukee, WI
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Milwaukee, WI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / DE)
5%
None
+5.0 pp in WI
Income Tax (top rate)
7.65%
6.60%
+1.1 pp in WI

Milwaukee vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Milwaukee or Wilmington?
Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Wilmington, DE's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Milwaukee than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Milwaukee versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Milwaukee or Wilmington?
Milwaukee is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).