Median rent is 32% lower in Milwaukee ($1,059/mo vs $1,556/mo). Buying is cheaper in Milwaukee, where the median home runs $184,000 versus $548,300. Households earn more in Reno ($80,760 vs $54,234 a year).
City A
Milwaukee, WI
City B
Reno, NV
How much would you need to earn in Reno, NV to maintain your standard of living from Milwaukee, WI?
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
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
Reno
Nevada
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 $1,556/mo in Reno, a 32% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Reno: the median home is $548,300 versus $184,000 in Milwaukee — 66% 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.
Milwaukee
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Reno
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Milwaukee has cleaner air on average: 22.0 AQI (Good) compared to 54.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Reno if you prioritize higher median household income ($80,760/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 Milwaukee cheaper than Reno?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Milwaukee vs Reno?
Median rent is $1,059/mo in Milwaukee, WI and $1,556/mo in Reno, NV. Milwaukee, WI has the lower rent by about 32%.
Which has higher salaries — Milwaukee or Reno?
Median household income is $54,234 in Milwaukee, WI and $80,760 in Reno, NV. Reno, NV 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 54.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Milwaukee or Reno?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Reno to match my Milwaukee 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
