City Comparison · 2026
Milwaukee vs Los Angeles
Salary, rent, taxes, and purchasing power compared
Purchasing Power
$100k in Milwaukee = $176k in Los Angeles
Metric
Milwaukee
Los Angeles
COL Index
✓1.00
1.76
1BR Monthly Rent
✓$1,250/mo
$2,450/mo
2BR Monthly Rent
✓$1,560/mo
$3,200/mo
State Income Tax
WI
CA
$100k Take-Home
✓$73,823
$73,198
$100k Effective Rate
✓26.18%
26.8%
$100k Savings Potential
✓$58,823
$43,798
After-Tax Income by Salary
| Gross Salary | Milwaukee WI | Los Angeles CA |
|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $47,455 $3,955/mo · 20.91% eff. | $48,276 $4,023/mo · 19.54% eff. |
| $100,000 | $73,823 $6,152/mo · 26.18% eff. | $73,198 $6,100/mo · 26.8% eff. |
| $150,000 | $105,715 $8,810/mo · 29.52% eff. | $103,090 $8,591/mo · 31.27% eff. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Milwaukee or Los Angeles cheaper to live in?
Milwaukee has a cost-of-living index of 1.00 while Los Angeles is 1.76 (1.00 = US average). Milwaukee is cheaper overall. 1BR rent in Milwaukee is $1,250/month vs $2,450/month in Los Angeles.
How much more do you need to earn in Los Angeles vs Milwaukee?
$100k in Milwaukee = $176k in Los Angeles. Cost of living in Los Angeles is higher by 76%.
Which city has better after-tax income — Milwaukee or Los Angeles?
On a $100,000 salary, you take home $73,823 in WI (Milwaukee) and $73,198 in CA (Los Angeles). After accounting for rent, your annual savings potential is $58,823 in Milwaukee vs $43,798 in Los Angeles.
More City Comparisons
California Salary GuideTexas Salary GuideMilwaukee vs New York City cost of livingMilwaukee vs Los Angeles cost of livingMilwaukee vs Chicago cost of livingCost of living in MilwaukeeCost of living in New York CityCost of living in Los AngelesSoftware Engineer salary in MilwaukeeRegistered Nurse salary in MilwaukeeWhere does $100k rank nationally?