Median rent is 35% lower in Milwaukee ($1,059/mo vs $1,641/mo). Buying is cheaper in Milwaukee, where the median home runs $184,000 versus $270,800. Households earn more in Garland ($76,320 vs $54,234 a year).
City A
Garland, TX
City B
Milwaukee, WI
How much would you need to earn in Milwaukee, WI to maintain your standard of living from Garland, TX?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Garland
Texas
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Milwaukee — median rent of $1,059/mo versus $1,641/mo in Garland, a 35% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Garland: the median home is $270,800 versus $184,000 in Milwaukee — 32% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Garland
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Milwaukee
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Milwaukee has cleaner air on average: 22.0 AQI (Good) compared to 55.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Garland if you prioritize higher median household income ($76,320/yr).
Pick Milwaukee if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,059/mo median).
Pick Milwaukee if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 22.0).
Is Garland cheaper than Milwaukee?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Garland vs Milwaukee?
Median rent is $1,641/mo in Garland, TX and $1,059/mo in Milwaukee, WI. Milwaukee, WI has the lower rent by about 35%.
Which has higher salaries — Garland or Milwaukee?
Median household income is $76,320 in Garland, TX and $54,234 in Milwaukee, WI. Garland, TX has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Milwaukee, WI has better air quality on average: 22.0 AQI versus 55.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Garland or Milwaukee?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Milwaukee to match my Garland income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
