

Milwaukee vs Minneapolis
$148/mo more in Minneapolis
MilwaukeeMinneapolisAbout 308 miles apart, close enough to drive.
- Minneapolis leaves you more
- Rent under 30% of pay
- Real winters
Same paycheck, two cities. $2,742/mo in Minneapolis. $2,594/mo in Milwaukee. +$1,776 a year.
Milwaukee
$2,594
left each month
Minneapolis
$2,742
+$148 vs Milwaukee
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
Next
In 2022-2023, 565 households moved Milwaukee → Minneapolis (avg AGI $67,814). 346 went the other way. The whole move →
+$148 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | Milwaukee | Minneapolis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $7,625 | $8,247 | +$622 |
| Income and payroll tax | $1,875 | $2,185 | +$311 |
| Take-home pay | $5,750 | $6,062 | +$312 |
| Rent | $1,261 | $1,366 | +$105 |
| Getting around | $503 | $504 | +$1 |
| Groceries | $384 | $400 | +$16 |
| Healthcare | $432 | $450 | +$18 |
| Utilities | $240 | $250 | +$10 |
| Everything else | $336 | $350 | +$14 |
| Left over | $2,594 | $2,742 | +$148 |
Salary to match Milwaukee
$96,000
Gross pay in Minneapolis that leaves the same amount as $91,500 in Milwaukee.
Tax difference
−$1,515
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 24.6% in Milwaukee, 26.5% in Minneapolis.
More about Minneapolis
Milwaukee, WI in full
Lake Michigan summers, cheap housing, and a 1.5% property tax.
Minneapolis, MN in full
Strong wages, good bones, and a January that averages 9°F at night.
The other way
Start in Minneapolis.
Minneapolis → Milwaukee →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in Minneapolis than Milwaukee?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Minneapolis leaves about $148 more a month. A one-bedroom is about $1,261 in Milwaukee and $1,366 in Minneapolis.
Does Minneapolis have state income tax?
Minneapolis is in Minnesota, which taxes wage income.
What changes if you move from Milwaukee to Minneapolis?
The paycheck is taxed in Minnesota. Rent stays at the same bedroom count. What you keep is the difference.
Left over each month is take-home pay minus rent and the rest of the bills. The gap between Milwaukee and Minneapolis changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this · Leftover vs a COL index · Why a cheaper COL% can still lose leftover.
Estimate, not a quote. How we figure this.