City comparison
Milwaukee, WI vs Spartanburg, SC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 6.5% higher than in Spartanburg, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Spartanburg, SC would need about $106,500 in Milwaukee, WI to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,119 a month in Milwaukee, WI and $1,083 in Spartanburg, SC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $923 a year higher in Spartanburg, SC than in Milwaukee, WI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.4% moving from Milwaukee, WI to Spartanburg, SC ($111,310 → $106,437), while prices change by −6.1%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.8% in real buying power.
- Milwaukee, WI: price level 96.9 (cheaper)
- Spartanburg, SC: price level 91.1 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Milwaukee, WI | Spartanburg, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.9 | 91.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $93,928 in Spartanburg | $106,465 in Milwaukee |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,119/mo | $1,083/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,261 | $74,337 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,919 (WI) | $4,843 (SC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,160 | $47,650 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA and Spartanburg, SC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI and Spartanburg, SC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Milwaukee | Spartanburg |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 97.1 | 68.0 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 91.6 | 88.3 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 98.3 |
| Overall | 96.9 | 91.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Milwaukee, WI → Spartanburg, SC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.5%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$923/yr.
89 Strong offer
Spartanburg, SC → Milwaukee, WI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.1%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$923/yr.
50 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Milwaukee, WI is in the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI pay area; Spartanburg, SC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Milwaukee, WI to Spartanburg, SC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Milwaukee, WI | Spartanburg, SC | Real change, Milwaukee → Spartanburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,548 | $61,722 | +1.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,098 | $74,678 | +1.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,606 | $89,508 | +1.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,310 | $106,437 | +1.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,535 | $125,776 | +1.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Milwaukee, WI | Spartanburg, SC | Spartanburg pay in Milwaukee dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,480 | $60,990 | $64,933 (+5.6%) |
| Software Developers | $123,730 | $114,460 | $121,859 (−1.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,290 | $77,080 | $82,063 (+2.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,360 | $82,360 | $87,684 (−9.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.