City comparison
Milwaukee, WI vs Tucson, AZ
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Milwaukee, WI (96.9) and Tucson, AZ (96.9, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Milwaukee, WI goes as far as $100,000 in Tucson, AZ.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,119 a month in Milwaukee, WI and $1,081 in Tucson, AZ.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,628 a year higher in Milwaukee, WI than in Tucson, AZ.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.6% moving from Milwaukee, WI to Tucson, AZ ($111,310 → $108,455), while prices change by −0.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.5% in real buying power.
- Milwaukee, WI: price level 96.9 (cheaper)
- Tucson, AZ: 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
| Milwaukee, WI | Tucson, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.9 | 96.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,958 in Tucson | $100,042 in Milwaukee |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,119/mo | $1,081/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,261 | $76,889 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,919 (WI) | $2,291 (AZ) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,160 | $47,760 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI | Tucson-Nogales, AZ |
Rent areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA and Tucson, AZ MSA. Metro areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI and Tucson, AZ.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Milwaukee | Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 97.1 | 91.8 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 91.6 | 89.5 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 99.8 |
| Overall | 96.9 | 96.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Milwaukee, WI → Tucson, AZ
Roughly even
Buying power +0.0%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$1,628/yr.
69 Fair offer
Tucson, AZ → Milwaukee, WI
Roughly even
Buying power −0.0%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$1,628/yr.
69 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Milwaukee, WI is in the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI pay area; Tucson, AZ is in Tucson-Nogales, AZ. The last column shows what a transfer from Milwaukee, WI to Tucson, AZ at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Milwaukee, WI | Tucson, AZ | Real change, Milwaukee → Tucson |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,548 | $62,893 | −2.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,098 | $76,095 | −2.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,606 | $91,205 | −2.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,310 | $108,455 | −2.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,535 | $128,162 | −2.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Milwaukee, WI | Tucson, AZ | Tucson pay in Milwaukee dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,480 | $47,220 | $47,240 (−23.2%) |
| Software Developers | $123,730 | $123,710 | $123,762 (+0.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,290 | $76,320 | $76,352 (−4.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,360 | $94,110 | $94,150 (−3.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.