Cost of Living in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
Is it worth moving here?
How far does a $70,000 salary go in Milwaukee-Waukesha? Estimated income taxes on that gross salary total approximately $9,863 per year — combining federal taxes with Wisconsin's state income tax. Subtract rent for a 2-bedroom apartment ($1,338/month based on HUD Fair Market Rents for the Milwaukee-Waukesha metro area) and the estimated annual take-home is $44,081, or roughly $3,673 per month for everything else: food, transportation, savings, and discretionary spending.
The Milwaukee-Waukesha metro has a cost of living index of 94.0 according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (national average = 100). This gives Milwaukee-Waukesha a moderate affordability advantage — groceries, dining, and services tend to cost less than the U.S. average.
At a $70,000 salary, the estimated 2-bedroom rent in Milwaukee-Waukesha represents approximately 23% of gross income. That falls comfortably below the 30% rent-burden guideline, a healthy position for building savings.
Annual Breakdown
Cost of Living Index
Living in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI is roughly 6% less expensive than the national average.
Monthly Take-Home
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Affordability Score
K-12 Schools
See Details →Colleges & Universities
See Details →| Institution | Enrollment | In-State Tuition | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Institute of Beauty and Wellness | 207 | $0 | 91.0% |
| Marquette University | 11,373 | $47,690 | 80.0% |
| VICI Beauty School | 104 | $0 | 80.0% |
| Milwaukee School of Engineering | 2,834 | $46,385 | 72.0% |
| Carroll University | 3,176 | $36,400 | 70.0% |
| Concordia University-Wisconsin | 5,063 | $33,750 | 64.0% |
| Wisconsin Lutheran College | 1,094 | $34,520 | 63.0% |
| Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design | 885 | $40,480 | 63.0% |
| Mount Mary University | 1,224 | $33,680 | 59.0% |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | 22,481 | $8,455 | 51.0% |
| Alverno College | 1,719 | $31,944 | 51.0% |
| Milwaukee Career College | 73 | $0 | 48.0% |
| Waukesha County Technical College | 7,757 | $4,386 | 46.0% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Milwaukee | 111 | $0 | 44.0% |
| Herzing University-Brookfield | 383 | $12,360 | 40.0% |
| Empire Beauty School-Milwaukee | 98 | $0 | 40.0% |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College | 13,190 | $4,386 | 25.0% |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa | 952 | $19,330 | 23.0% |
| Medical College of Wisconsin | 1,661 | $0 | — |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Flex | 580 | $6,750 | — |
| Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology | 153 | $0 | — |
| Nashotah House | 125 | $0 | — |
| Ottawa University-Milwaukee | 116 | $11,976 | — |
| Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology | 76 | $0 | — |