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

😐 Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 34.5% more expensive than Milwaukee, WI without rent, and 48.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 40.2% more expensive than Milwaukee, WI without rent, and 62.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Milwaukee, WI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.11 $25.11
$18.84 $18.84
33.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$65.8 $65.8
79.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.84 $13.84
$9.82 $9.82
40.94%
Cappuccino
$5.8 $5.8
$5.18 $5.18
11.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$3.1 $3.1
-4.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.26 $2.26
11.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$5.03 $5.03
55.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$7.07 $7.07
10.89%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Milwaukee, WI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$0.81 $0.81
65.43%
White Bread (500g)
$4.98 $4.98
$3.35 $3.35
48.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$4.58 $4.58
16.81%
Eggs
$6.91 $6.91
$4.25 $4.25
62.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.8 $24.8
$9.96 $9.96
149.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.74 $15.74
$12.57 $12.57
25.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.84 $20.84
$15.4 $15.4
35.32%
Apples (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$5.64 $5.64
7.27%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.17 $1.17
135.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$4.49 $4.49
21.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.45 $6.45
$4.82 $4.82
33.82%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.18 $2.18
42.66%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$2.1 $2.1
75.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.01 $2.01
38.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.73 $2.73
-7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$10.63 $10.63
9.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.15 $17.15
$14.82 $14.82
15.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.82 $1.82
61.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$3.55 $3.55
18.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Milwaukee, WI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.8 $2.8
$2.05 $2.05
36.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
$73 $73
38.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$2.78 $2.78
-3.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.56 $1.56
5.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.13 $30.13
$21.07 $21.07
43.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$0.84 $0.84
38.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3K $33.3K
$30.5K $30.5K
9.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.2K $26.2K
0.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Milwaukee, WI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$182 $182
49.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$47.4 $47.4
30.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.2 $75.2
$62.5 $62.5
20.29%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Milwaukee, WI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.4 $78.4
$53.4 $53.4
46.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.04 $41.04
$18.2 $18.2
125.49%
Cinema Ticket
$15.89 $15.89
$14.84 $14.84
7.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Milwaukee, WI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,248 $2,248
$1,853 $1,853
21.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29K $29K
$23.8K $23.8K
21.79%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Milwaukee, WI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5 $69.5
$42.37 $42.37
64.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 $52.5
$45.46 $45.46
15.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$80.1 $80.1
49.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$103 $103
37.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Milwaukee, WI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,376 $2,376
$1,604 $1,604
48.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,829 $1,829
$1,162 $1,162
57.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,702 $4,702
$2,844 $2,844
65.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,474 $3,474
$1,863 $1,863
86.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,928 $6,928
$1,899 $1,899
264.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,224 $5,224
$1,700 $1,700
207.39%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Milwaukee, WI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,473 $6,473
$3,704 $3,704
74.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.55
-1.98%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Milwaukee, WI: October 28, 2025

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