Is it cheaper to live in Milwaukee or Worcester?

Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,050 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Milwaukee or Worcester?

Milwaukee is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Milwaukee vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,050/mo est.

Worcester

Massachusetts

$1,340/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 $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 23% higher in Worcester, MA. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Milwaukee, WI

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$841

$1,087

+29% in Worcester, MA

1 Bedroom

$849

$1,028

+21% in Worcester, MA

2 Bedroom

$1,031

$1,476

+43% in Worcester, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,193

$1,675

+40% in Worcester, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$172,000

$339,500

+97% in Worcester, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$51,888

$67,544

+30% in Worcester, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,160

$57,830

+13% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

32.2 yr

34.1 yr

+1.9 yr in Worcester, MA

Homeownership

41.5%

42.4%

+0.9 pp in Worcester, MA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

26.6%

34.1%

+7.5 pp in Worcester, MA

Avg Commute

22.4 min

25.1 min

+2.7 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,452.3

640.2

+56% in Milwaukee, WI

Property Crime

2,772.2

1,580.3

+43% 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

about equal

Annual Precipitation

34.8 in

48.1 in

+13.3 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.07/gal

+6% in Worcester, MA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Massachusetts.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.25

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.6

29.6

+51% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.17

$30.66

+69% in Worcester, MA

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 Worcester, MA

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Milwaukee, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Worcester, MA

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Worcester, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Worcester, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / MA)

6.25%

+1.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

7.65%

9.00%

+1.3 pp in MA

Milwaukee vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Milwaukee or Worcester?: Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,050 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Milwaukee than in Worcester?: 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 Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Milwaukee or Worcester?: Milwaukee is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).