City Comparison · 2026
Milwaukee vs Chicago
Salary, rent, taxes, and purchasing power compared
Purchasing Power
$100k in Milwaukee = $138k in Chicago
Metric
Milwaukee
Chicago
COL Index
✓1.00
1.38
1BR Monthly Rent
✓$1,250/mo
$2,000/mo
2BR Monthly Rent
✓$1,560/mo
$2,600/mo
State Income Tax
WI
IL
$100k Take-Home
✓$73,823
$73,786
$100k Effective Rate
✓26.18%
26.21%
$100k Savings Potential
✓$58,823
$49,786
After-Tax Income by Salary
| Gross Salary | Milwaukee WI | Chicago IL |
|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $47,455 $3,955/mo · 20.91% eff. | $47,278 $3,940/mo · 21.2% eff. |
| $100,000 | $73,823 $6,152/mo · 26.18% eff. | $73,786 $6,149/mo · 26.21% eff. |
| $150,000 | $105,715 $8,810/mo · 29.52% eff. | $105,853 $8,821/mo · 29.43% eff. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Milwaukee or Chicago cheaper to live in?
Milwaukee has a cost-of-living index of 1.00 while Chicago is 1.38 (1.00 = US average). Milwaukee is cheaper overall. 1BR rent in Milwaukee is $1,250/month vs $2,000/month in Chicago.
How much more do you need to earn in Chicago vs Milwaukee?
$100k in Milwaukee = $138k in Chicago. Cost of living in Chicago is higher by 38%.
Which city has better after-tax income — Milwaukee or Chicago?
On a $100,000 salary, you take home $73,823 in WI (Milwaukee) and $73,786 in IL (Chicago). After accounting for rent, your annual savings potential is $58,823 in Milwaukee vs $49,786 in Chicago.
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