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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,880 in Seattle, WA versus $2,569 in Milwaukee, WI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,820 in Seattle, WA versus $3,684 in Milwaukee, WI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,759 in Seattle, WA versus $4,799 in Milwaukee, WI.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 51% more expensive than in Milwaukee, WI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 184% above, Milwaukee, WI 88% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.01 $25.01

$20.24 $20.24

23.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.9 $99.9

$68.9 $68.9

45.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$10.17 $10.17

48.08%

Cappuccino

$6.37 $6.37

$5.07 $5.07

25.64%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.95 $2.95

4.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.12 $2.12

41.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$6.14 $6.14

27.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$7.33 $7.33

12.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$0.87 $0.87

39.08%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.20 $3.20

55.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$5.08 $5.08

25.79%

Eggs

$5.12 $5.12

$4.51 $4.51

13.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.05 $21.05

$10.27 $10.27

104.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$13.88 $13.88

32.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.03 $24.03

$16.83 $16.83

42.78%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$5.31 $5.31

10.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.50 $1.50

25.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.55 $4.55

16.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$5.28 $5.28

22.54%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$2.49 $2.49

47.79%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$2.50 $2.50

34.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.24 $2.24

24.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.36 $2.36

9.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.92 $13.92

$10.75 $10.75

29.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$15.51 $15.51

-3.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.11 $2.11

102.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

$3.63 $3.63

61.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.15 $2.15

35.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 $109

$71.5 $71.5

52.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.87 $2.87

-10.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.56 $1.56

10.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$21.02 $21.02

44.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$0.95 $0.95

47.37%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$35.8K $35.8K

0.82%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.8K $25.8K

-1.15%

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

$299 $299

$203 $203

47.45%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$66.9 $66.9

3.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.7 $87.7

$72.7 $72.7

20.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 $80.2

$38.60 $38.60

107.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.93 $34.93

$18.39 $18.39

89.94%

Cinema Ticket

$17.70 $17.70

$14.09 $14.09

25.62%

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

$3,020 $3,020

$1,821 $1,821

65.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$24.5K $24.5K

26.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 $77.3

$54.6 $54.6

41.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$44.28 $44.28

24.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$94.5 $94.5

35.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$116 $116

37.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 $2,488

$1,744 $1,744

42.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$1,167 $1,167

65.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,755 $4,755

$2,753 $2,753

72.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$1,832 $1,832

98.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,583 $7,583

$2,711 $2,711

179.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,109 $5,109

$1,715 $1,715

197.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,219 $6,219

$3,751 $3,751

65.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.12

5.39%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Milwaukee, WI: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,488 in Seattle, WA and $1,744 in Milwaukee, WI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 66% 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: $100 in Seattle, WA vs $69.0 in Milwaukee, WI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $552 vs $409 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

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

Seattle, WA and Milwaukee, WI differ by about 51% in total monthly costs ($3,880 vs $2,569 including rent). Milwaukee, WI is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 66% higher in Seattle, WA, 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: $2,488 in Seattle, WA versus $1,744 in Milwaukee, WI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,880 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,569 in Milwaukee, WI – 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 52% 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.