States › Wisconsin › South Milwaukee

Is South Milwaukee, WI expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 17 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,13535% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$79,191about $6,599/month · 9% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$235,70029% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 80% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $45,400 a year. That is $22 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Wisconsin cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Wisconsin. It is number 45 of 156 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

South Milwaukee
$1,135
Germantown
$1,372
Howard
$1,104
Onalaska
$1,356
Pleasant Prairie
$1,771
Fox Crossing
$1,069
Oconomowoc
$1,631

How much do households earn in South Milwaukee?

Under $25k
14.1%
$25k–50k
21.8%
$50k–100k
40.1%
$100k–150k
14.3%
$150k+
6.8%

Share of households by yearly income. 21.0% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in South Milwaukee

SizeSouth MilwaukeeU.S. average
Studio$827$1,338
1 bedroom$1,028$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,212$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,547$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is South Milwaukee overall?

Everyday prices in Wisconsin overall are 6% below the U.S. average (index 94.1, U.S. = 100).

Housing
79
Goods (food, clothes…)
94
Utilities
90
Other services
100
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for South Milwaukee, so the Wisconsin figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in South Milwaukee

🏛️ Property tax$4,420a year · 1.88% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$167a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in South Milwaukee

Commute to work24.2 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree29.9%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home66.8%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line13.1%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment3.6%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in South Milwaukee?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $500 a month less.

Renting
$1,135
Owning
$1,635

Owning assumes a typical $235,700 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $23,570 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in South Milwaukee, WI?

Renting in South Milwaukee costs a median of about $1,135 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Wisconsin median is $1,305.

How much do I need to make to live in South Milwaukee?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $45,400 a year, or $22 an hour at a full-time job.

Is South Milwaukee cheap or expensive?

South Milwaukee is rated Cheap: rent takes 17.2% of the typical household income of $79,191. It ranks 45th cheapest of 156 Wisconsin cities we track.

How much are property taxes in South Milwaukee?

The median homeowner in South Milwaukee pays $4,420 a year in property taxes, about 1.88% of the median home value.

Is South Milwaukee more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Wisconsin are 6% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in South Milwaukee?

The median home value in South Milwaukee is $235,700, about 3.0 times the typical yearly household income.

20,442 people live in South Milwaukee. Numbers are typical (middle) values.