Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos vs Milwaukee-Waukesha

Cost of Living Comparison

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$7,241
Rent (2BR) -$22,224
Net Income $40,535

To match your lifestyle in Milwaukee-Waukesha, you'd need:

$52,171

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos 126.4
Milwaukee-Waukesha 94.0
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos $32,079
Milwaukee-Waukesha $46,884

Milwaukee-Waukesha

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$9,863
Rent (2BR) -$16,056
Net Income $44,081

To match your lifestyle in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, you'd need:

$93,984

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $3,546 more per year in Milwaukee-Waukesha compared to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos. You'd pay $2,622 more in taxes in Milwaukee-Waukesha, while housing costs 28% less. The cost of living in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is 26% above avg, while Milwaukee-Waukesha is 6% below avg, making Milwaukee-Waukesha the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos feels like earning $52,171 in Milwaukee-Waukesha once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, Milwaukee-Waukesha has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos ($22,621 vs $24,833 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
Milwaukee-Waukesha
Schools
541
457
Enrollment
345,378
228,263
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
13.8%
13.6%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
Milwaukee-Waukesha
Institutions
31
25
In-State Tuition
$22,621
$24,833
Out-of-State
$28,276
$25,925
Grad Rate
58.5%
56.1%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos or Milwaukee-Waukesha more expensive?

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is more expensive with a cost of living index of 126.4 vs 94.0 (national average = 100).

What salary in Milwaukee-Waukesha equals $70,000 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos?

You would need to earn approximately $52,171 in Milwaukee-Waukesha to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.

How much is rent in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos vs Milwaukee-Waukesha?

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $22,224 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos and $16,056 in Milwaukee-Waukesha—housing is 28% less in Milwaukee-Waukesha.