City comparison
Milwaukee, WI vs Peoria, IL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 6.3% higher than in Peoria, IL. Someone earning $100,000 in Peoria, IL would need about $106,300 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 $818 in Peoria, IL. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI and 13% in Peoria, IL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $886 a year higher in Peoria, IL than in Milwaukee, WI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.4% moving from Milwaukee, WI to Peoria, IL ($111,310 → $106,437), while prices change by −5.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.6% in real buying power.
- Milwaukee, WI: price level 96.9 (cheaper)
- Peoria, IL: price level 91.2 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Milwaukee, WI | Peoria, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.9 | 91.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,114 in Peoria | $106,254 in Milwaukee |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,119/mo | $818/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,261 | $74,375 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,919 (WI) | $4,805 (IL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 13% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,160 | $49,590 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA and Peoria, IL MSA. Metro areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI and Peoria, IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Milwaukee | Peoria |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 97.1 | 63.8 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 91.6 | 90.5 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 96.9 | 91.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Milwaukee, WI → Peoria, IL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.3%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax +$886/yr.
88 Strong offer
Peoria, IL → Milwaukee, WI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.9%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$886/yr.
50 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Milwaukee, WI is in the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI pay area; Peoria, IL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Milwaukee, WI to Peoria, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Milwaukee, WI | Peoria, IL | Real change, Milwaukee → Peoria |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,548 | $61,722 | +1.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,098 | $74,678 | +1.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,606 | $89,508 | +1.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,310 | $106,437 | +1.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,535 | $125,776 | +1.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Milwaukee, WI | Peoria, IL | Peoria pay in Milwaukee dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,480 | $57,440 | $61,033 (−0.7%) |
| Software Developers | $123,730 | $130,590 | $138,758 (+12.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,290 | $79,540 | $84,515 (+5.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,360 | $81,010 | $86,077 (−11.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.