City comparison
Milwaukee, WI vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 12.3% higher than in Milwaukee, WI. Someone earning $100,000 in Milwaukee, WI would need about $112,300 in Washington, DC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,015 a month in Washington, DC versus $1,119 in Milwaukee, WI. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 18% in Milwaukee, WI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,612 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Milwaukee, WI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +9.4% moving from Milwaukee, WI to Washington, DC ($111,310 → $121,785), while prices change by +12.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.6% in real buying power.
- Milwaukee, WI: price level 96.9 (cheaper)
- Washington, DC: price level 108.9 (much pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Milwaukee, WI | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.9 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $112,324 in Washington | $89,028 in Milwaukee |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,119/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,261 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,919 (WI) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,160 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Milwaukee | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 97.1 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 91.6 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 96.9 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Milwaukee, WI → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −11.0%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$1,612/yr.
26 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Milwaukee, WI
Same pay goes further
Buying power +12.3%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$1,612/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Milwaukee, WI is in the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Milwaukee, WI to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Milwaukee, WI | Washington, DC | Real change, Milwaukee → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,548 | $70,623 | −2.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,098 | $85,447 | −2.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,606 | $102,415 | −2.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,310 | $121,785 | −2.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,535 | $143,913 | −2.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Milwaukee, WI | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Milwaukee dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,480 | $79,470 | $70,750 (+15.1%) |
| Software Developers | $123,730 | $154,930 | $137,931 (+11.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,290 | $102,140 | $90,933 (+13.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,360 | $102,710 | $91,440 (−6.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.