City comparison
Green Bay, WI vs Milwaukee, WI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 4.1% higher than in Green Bay, WI. Someone earning $100,000 in Green Bay, WI would need about $104,100 in Milwaukee, WI to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,119 a month in Milwaukee, WI versus $931 in Green Bay, WI. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI and 15% in Green Bay, WI.
- Both are in WI, so estimated state income tax is the same: $3,919 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +4.6% moving from Green Bay, WI to Milwaukee, WI ($106,437 → $111,310), while prices change by +4.1%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.4% in real buying power.
- Green Bay, WI: price level 93.1 (cheaper)
- Milwaukee, WI: price level 96.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Green Bay, WI | Milwaukee, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.1 | 96.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,137 in Milwaukee | $96,027 in Green Bay |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $931/mo | $1,119/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,261 | $75,261 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,919 (WI) | $3,919 (WI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,940 | $51,160 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI |
Rent areas: Green Bay, WI HUD Metro FMR Area and Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA. Metro areas: Green Bay, WI and Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Green Bay | Milwaukee |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 74.7 | 97.1 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 90.0 | 91.6 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 99.4 |
| Overall | 93.1 | 96.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Green Bay, WI → Milwaukee, WI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.0%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
56 Fair offer
Milwaukee, WI → Green Bay, WI
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.1%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
82 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Green Bay, WI is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Milwaukee, WI is in Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI. The last column shows what a transfer from Green Bay, WI to Milwaukee, WI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Green Bay, WI | Milwaukee, WI | Real change, Green Bay → Milwaukee |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $64,548 | +0.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $78,098 | +0.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $93,606 | +0.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $111,310 | +0.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $131,535 | +0.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Green Bay, WI | Milwaukee, WI | Milwaukee pay in Green Bay dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,600 | $61,480 | $59,038 (−2.6%) |
| Software Developers | $103,160 | $123,730 | $118,815 (+15.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,720 | $80,290 | $77,100 (−0.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,700 | $97,360 | $93,492 (+10.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.