Cost of Living Comparison Between Milwaukee, WI and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Milwaukee, WI and Seattle, WA

🙂 Solo nomad: Milwaukee, WI is 25.6% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 32.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Milwaukee, WI is 28.7% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 38.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Milwaukee, WI
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.84 $18.84
$25.11 $25.11
-24.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.8 $65.8
$118 $118
-44.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.82 $9.82
$13.84 $13.84
-29.05%
Cappuccino
$5.18 $5.18
$5.8 $5.8
-10.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.1 $3.1
$2.95 $2.95
5.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.51 $2.51
-9.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.03 $5.03
$7.81 $7.81
-35.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07 $7.07
$7.84 $7.84
-9.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Milwaukee, WI
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.34 $1.34
-39.55%
White Bread (500g)
$3.35 $3.35
$4.98 $4.98
-32.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.58 $4.58
$5.35 $5.35
-14.39%
Eggs
$4.25 $4.25
$6.91 $6.91
-38.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.96 $9.96
$24.8 $24.8
-59.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.57 $12.57
$15.74 $15.74
-20.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.4 $15.4
$20.84 $20.84
-26.10%
Apples (1kg)
$5.64 $5.64
$6.05 $6.05
-6.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 $1.17
$2.75 $2.75
-57.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.49 $4.49
$5.47 $5.47
-17.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.82 $4.82
$6.45 $6.45
-25.27%
Potato (1kg)
$2.18 $2.18
$3.11 $3.11
-29.90%
Onion (1kg)
$2.1 $2.1
$3.69 $3.69
-43.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.78 $2.78
-27.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.73 $2.73
$2.52 $2.52
8.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.63 $10.63
$11.64 $11.64
-8.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.82 $14.82
$17.15 $17.15
-13.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 $1.82
$2.94 $2.94
-38.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55 $3.55
$4.19 $4.19
-15.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Milwaukee, WI
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.8 $2.8
-26.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73 $73
$101 $101
-27.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.68 $2.68
3.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.65 $1.65
-5.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.07 $21.07
$30.13 $30.13
-30.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.16 $1.16
-27.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K $30.5K
$33.3K $33.3K
-8.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.3K $26.3K
-0.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Milwaukee, WI
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$182 $182
$271 $271
-32.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.4 $47.4
$61.8 $61.8
-23.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.5 $62.5
$75.2 $75.2
-16.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Milwaukee, WI
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.4 $53.4
$78.4 $78.4
-31.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.2 $18.2
$41.04 $41.04
-55.65%
Cinema Ticket
$14.84 $14.84
$15.89 $15.89
-6.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Milwaukee, WI
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,853 $1,853
$2,248 $2,248
-17.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.8K $23.8K
$29K $29K
-17.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Milwaukee, WI
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.37 $42.37
$69.5 $69.5
-39.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.46 $45.46
$52.5 $52.5
-13.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.1 $80.1
$120 $120
-33.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$142 $142
-27.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Milwaukee, WI
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 $1,604
$2,376 $2,376
-32.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,162 $1,162
$1,829 $1,829
-36.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,844 $2,844
$4,702 $4,702
-39.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,863 $1,863
$3,474 $3,474
-46.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,899 $1,899
$6,928 $6,928
-72.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,700 $1,700
$5,224 $5,224
-67.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Milwaukee, WI
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,704 $3,704
$6,473 $6,473
-42.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.42
2.02%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Milwaukee, WI: October 28, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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