Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Milwaukee, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Milwaukee, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,459 in New York, NY versus $2,392 in Milwaukee, WI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,988 in New York, NY versus $3,542 in Milwaukee, WI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,517 in New York, NY versus $4,692 in Milwaukee, WI.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 86% more expensive than in Milwaukee, WI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 234% above, Milwaukee, WI 79% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.11 $30.11

$18.66 $18.66

61.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$64.2 $64.2

122.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.67 $12.67

$9.92 $9.92

27.72%

Cappuccino

$6.07 $6.07

$5.12 $5.12

18.55%

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

$3.27 $3.27

$3.06 $3.06

6.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.24 $2.24

16.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.97 $7.97

$4.87 $4.87

63.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.18 $12.18

$7.03 $7.03

73.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.82 $0.82

87.80%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.46 $3.46

46.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.39 $8.39

$4.41 $4.41

90.25%

Eggs

$7.11 $7.11

$4.32 $4.32

64.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.70 $17.70

$9.61 $9.61

84.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.71 $16.71

$12.62 $12.62

32.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.85 $19.85

$15.40 $15.40

28.90%

Apples (1kg)

$7.38 $7.38

$5.58 $5.58

32.26%

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.11 $1.11

130.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.84 $5.84

$4.55 $4.55

28.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.35 $6.35

$4.86 $4.86

30.66%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.17 $2.17

72.81%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.20 $2.20

84.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.14 $3.14

$1.93 $1.93

62.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.60 $2.60

-4.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$10.57 $10.57

76.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.79 $19.79

$15.54 $15.54

27.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.02 $3.02

$1.83 $1.83

65.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$3.46 $3.46

8.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.04 $2.04

39.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

$71.5 $71.5

86.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.94 $4.94

$2.86 $2.86

72.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.63 $1.63

36.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.11 $42.11

$20.75 $20.75

102.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.84 $0.84

15.48%

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

$34.8K $34.8K

$29.8K $29.8K

17.00%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$26.7K $26.7K

3.68%

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

$180 $180

0.13%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$48.59 $48.59

24.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.6 $62.6

$63.2 $63.2

-0.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$142 $142

$54.3 $54.3

161.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.8 $64.8

$18.62 $18.62

247.80%

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$14.71 $14.71

35.83%

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

$3,220 $3,220

$1,828 $1,828

76.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.0K $57.0K

$23.9K $23.9K

138.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.3 $67.3

$42.69 $42.69

57.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.36 $48.36

$45.73 $45.73

5.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$78.7 $78.7

42.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$171 $171

$107 $107

59.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,136 $4,136

$1,591 $1,591

160.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,635 $2,635

$1,163 $1,163

126.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,333 $8,333

$2,927 $2,927

184.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,118 $5,118

$1,838 $1,838

178.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.7K $18.7K

$2,741 $2,741

580.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,464 $6,464

$1,709 $1,709

278.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,420 $5,420

$3,761 $3,761

44.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.55

-1.68%

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

Last update for New York, NY: July 19, 2026

Last update for Milwaukee, WI: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,136 in New York, NY and $1,591 in Milwaukee, WI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 44% 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: $143 in New York, NY vs $64.0 in Milwaukee, WI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $555 vs $390 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

New York, NY vs Milwaukee, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY and Milwaukee, WI differ by about 86% in total monthly costs ($4,459 vs $2,392 including rent). Milwaukee, WI is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 44% higher in New York, NY, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $4,136 in New York, NY versus $1,591 in Milwaukee, WI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $4,459 per month in New York, NY versus $2,392 in Milwaukee, WI – a 86% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Milwaukee, WI runs roughly 87% less than in New York, NY. 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 86% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.