Question 1

Is Denver or Milwaukee cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $779/month less than in Denver, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $2,089/mo in Denver versus $1,338/mo in Milwaukee.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Denver vs Milwaukee?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $84,500/year before tax in Denver, CO and $67,500/year in Milwaukee, WI — a difference of about $17,000. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Denver or Milwaukee cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Milwaukee, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $11,167/month in Denver and $9,373/month in Milwaukee, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Denver or Milwaukee?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Milwaukee costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Denver54	Milwaukee64
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,499	$3,720
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$11,167	$9,373
Salary for comfort	$84,500/yr	$67,500/yr
Typical rent	$2,089	$1,338
Median home value	$586,700	$172,000
Median household income	$91,681	$51,888
Unemployment	4.1%	4.8%
Housing score	30	60
Jobs score	44	52
Safety score	35	41
Climate score	74	70
Amenities score	64	65
Population	713.7K	569.8K
Summer high / winter low	88° / 17°	80° / 16°

Denver, CO vs Milwaukee, WI