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Milwaukee vs San Francisco: which is cheaper?

Milwaukee is 19% cheaperBased on official 2024 price levels from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

I need $71,560 in San Francisco to live the same way.

🏠 Rent per month
$1,284
$3,201
🛏️ 2-bedroom rent
$1,170
$3,312
💵 Families earn per year
$58,491
$152,036
🔑 Buying a house
$184,000
$1,394,500
📊 Overall prices (U.S. = 100)
96.9
115.6
🏛️ Property tax per year
$3,668
$9,862
⚡ Electric bill per month
$156
$104
👥 People living there
566,973
830,235
Commute to work
22.4 min
30.4 min
College degree
27.4%
60.3%
Own their home
41.8%
38.2%
Below poverty line
22.8%
11.2%
Unemployment
6.2%
6.1%

Bottom line

Pay for the same job

JobMilwaukeeSan FranciscoDifference
Firefighter$49,760$113,700+128% in San Francisco
Registered Nurse$97,360$186,610+92% in San Francisco
Market Research Analyst$73,880$123,250+67% in San Francisco
Elementary School Teacher$61,480$101,860+66% in San Francisco
Nurse Practitioner$134,350$219,080+63% in San Francisco
Lawyer$131,100$212,500+62% in San Francisco
Police Officer$82,090$132,000+61% in San Francisco
Software Developer$123,730$186,640+51% in San Francisco

Frequently asked questions

Is Milwaukee or San Francisco cheaper to live in?

Milwaukee is about 19% cheaper overall. Rent is $1,284 a month there versus $3,201 in San Francisco.

What salary do I need in San Francisco to match $60,000 in Milwaukee?

About $71,560 a year gives the same standard of living in San Francisco.

Where do people earn more, Milwaukee or San Francisco?

The typical household earns $58,491 in Milwaukee and $152,036 in San Francisco, 62% more in San Francisco.

More comparisons

All Milwaukee comparisons → · All San Francisco comparisons →

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