Milwaukee-Waukesha vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater

Cost of Living Comparison

Milwaukee-Waukesha

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

To match your lifestyle in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, you'd need:

$94,161

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

Milwaukee-Waukesha 94.0
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater 123.5
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

Milwaukee-Waukesha $46,884
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater $31,619

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$7,241
Rent (2BR) -$23,724
Net Income $39,035

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

$51,648

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $5,046 more per year in Milwaukee-Waukesha compared to Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater. You'd pay $2,622 less in taxes in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, while housing costs 48% more. The cost of living in Milwaukee-Waukesha is 6% below avg, while Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is 23% above avg, making Milwaukee-Waukesha the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Milwaukee-Waukesha feels like earning $94,161 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater ($24,833 vs $15,250 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

Milwaukee-Waukesha
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Schools
457
589
Enrollment
228,263
415,023
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
13.6%
15.1%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

Milwaukee-Waukesha
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Institutions
25
41
In-State Tuition
$24,833
$15,250
Out-of-State
$25,925
$16,986
Grad Rate
56.1%
60.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Milwaukee-Waukesha or Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater more expensive?

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is more expensive with a cost of living index of 123.5 vs 94.0 (national average = 100).

What salary in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater equals $70,000 in Milwaukee-Waukesha?

You would need to earn approximately $94,161 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Milwaukee-Waukesha, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.

How much is rent in Milwaukee-Waukesha vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $16,056 in Milwaukee-Waukesha and $23,724 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater—housing is 48% more in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater.