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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,390 in Milwaukee, WI versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,521 in Milwaukee, WI versus $5,539 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,653 in Milwaukee, WI versus $7,479 in Seattle, WA.

Living in Milwaukee, WI costs roughly 34% less than in Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Milwaukee, WI 78% above, Seattle, WA 168% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.40 $18.40

$24.80 $24.80

-25.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.2 $64.2

$118 $118

-45.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 $9.89

$13.77 $13.77

-28.18%

Cappuccino

$5.20 $5.20

$5.71 $5.71

-8.93%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.05 $3.05

3.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.50 $2.50

-11.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.89 $4.89

$7.83 $7.83

-37.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.97 $6.97

$7.88 $7.88

-11.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.35 $1.35

-37.04%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$5.06 $5.06

-32.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$5.39 $5.39

-14.47%

Eggs

$4.33 $4.33

$6.85 $6.85

-36.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.16 $10.16

$25.07 $25.07

-59.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.70 $12.70

$15.85 $15.85

-19.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.29 $15.29

$20.59 $20.59

-25.74%

Apples (1kg)

$5.78 $5.78

$6.14 $6.14

-5.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 $1.13

$2.82 $2.82

-59.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$5.51 $5.51

-18.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$6.74 $6.74

-26.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 $2.12

$3.15 $3.15

-32.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.11 $2.11

$3.82 $3.82

-44.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.69 $2.69

-26.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.64 $2.64

-0.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.35 $10.35

$11.65 $11.65

-11.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.49 $15.49

$15.69 $15.69

-1.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.93 $2.93

-37.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.24 $4.24

-19.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.82 $2.82

-28.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.1 $72.1

$100 $100

-27.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.60 $2.60

7.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.72 $1.72

-4.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.28 $21.28

$30.22 $30.22

-29.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.19 $1.19

-27.73%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.4K $30.4K

$32.7K $32.7K

-7.15%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.1K $26.1K

0.03%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$187 $187

$263 $263

-28.84%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$47.98 $47.98

$60.9 $60.9

-21.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.3 $63.3

$75.9 $75.9

-16.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.5 $52.5

$79.6 $79.6

-34.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 $18.66

$39.89 $39.89

-53.22%

Cinema Ticket

$14.81 $14.81

$16.27 $16.27

-8.97%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,793 $1,793

$2,281 $2,281

-21.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.4K $24.4K

$29.3K $29.3K

-16.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.01 $43.01

$68.6 $68.6

-37.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.81 $45.81

$52.0 $52.0

-11.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.3 $79.3

$116 $116

-31.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 $104

$143 $143

-27.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$2,336 $2,336

-32.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,129 $1,129

$1,863 $1,863

-39.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,908 $2,908

$4,628 $4,628

-37.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,810 $1,810

$3,477 $3,477

-47.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,726 $2,726

$7,766 $7,766

-64.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,667 $1,667

$5,232 $5,232

-68.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,776 $3,776

$6,617 $6,617

-42.93%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,575 in Milwaukee, WI and $2,336 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 75% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $64.0 in Milwaukee, WI vs $118 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $394 vs $547 per month, with Milwaukee, WI cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Milwaukee, WI vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Milwaukee, WI and Seattle, WA differ by about 51% in total monthly costs ($2,390 vs $3,598 including rent). Milwaukee, WI is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Seattle, WA earns 75% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,575 in Milwaukee, WI versus $2,336 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,390 per month in Milwaukee, WI versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA – a 51% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Milwaukee, WI runs roughly 39% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Milwaukee, WI is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Milwaukee, WI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.