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: $4,503 in New York, NY versus $2,390 in Milwaukee, WI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,077 in New York, NY versus $3,521 in Milwaukee, WI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,650 in New York, NY versus $4,653 in Milwaukee, WI.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 88% more expensive than Milwaukee, WI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 236% above, Milwaukee, WI 78% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.28 $30.28

$18.40 $18.40

64.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$64.2 $64.2

121.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.65 $12.65

$9.89 $9.89

27.91%

Cappuccino

$5.81 $5.81

$5.20 $5.20

11.73%

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

$3.26 $3.26

$3.15 $3.15

3.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.22 $2.22

16.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$4.89 $4.89

67.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.82 $11.82

$6.97 $6.97

69.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$0.85 $0.85

80.00%

White Bread (500g)

$5.27 $5.27

$3.41 $3.41

54.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.34 $8.34

$4.61 $4.61

80.91%

Eggs

$7.25 $7.25

$4.33 $4.33

67.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 $17.29

$10.16 $10.16

70.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.21 $16.21

$12.70 $12.70

27.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.82 $19.82

$15.29 $15.29

29.63%

Apples (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$5.78 $5.78

30.97%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.13 $1.13

114.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 $5.83

$4.48 $4.48

30.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.97 $4.97

28.57%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$2.12 $2.12

82.55%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.11 $2.11

92.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 $3.12

$1.97 $1.97

58.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.62 $2.62

-6.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.26 $19.26

$10.35 $10.35

86.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.96 $19.96

$15.49 $15.49

28.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.83 $1.83

63.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.43 $3.43

8.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.01 $2.01

41.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

$72.1 $72.1

86.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$2.79 $2.79

83.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.64 $1.64

28.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.31 $42.31

$21.28 $21.28

98.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.86 $0.86

12.79%

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

$34.7K $34.7K

$30.4K $30.4K

14.30%

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

$27.8K $27.8K

$26.1K $26.1K

6.44%

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

$181 $181

$187 $187

-2.89%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$47.98 $47.98

25.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$63.3 $63.3

-1.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$52.5 $52.5

172.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

$18.66 $18.66

249.73%

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$14.81 $14.81

34.91%

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

$3,216 $3,216

$1,793 $1,793

79.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.2K $57.2K

$24.4K $24.4K

134.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$43.01 $43.01

56.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.68 $47.68

$45.81 $45.81

4.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$79.3 $79.3

40.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 $169

$104 $104

62.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,092 $4,092

$1,575 $1,575

159.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,694 $2,694

$1,129 $1,129

138.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,445 $8,445

$2,908 $2,908

190.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,128 $5,128

$1,810 $1,810

183.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K $18.2K

$2,726 $2,726

566.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,299 $6,299

$1,667 $1,667

277.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,540 $5,540

$3,776 $3,776

46.70%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Milwaukee, WI: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,092 in New York, NY and $1,575 in Milwaukee, WI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 47% 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: $142 in New York, NY vs $64.0 in Milwaukee, WI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $394 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 88% in total monthly costs ($4,503 vs $2,390 including rent). Milwaukee, WI is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

New York, NY pays 47% more on average, 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: $4,092 in New York, NY versus $1,575 in Milwaukee, WI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $4,503 per month in New York, NY versus $2,390 in Milwaukee, WI – a 88% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Milwaukee, WI runs roughly 86% 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 88% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.