Bellevue vs Milwaukee
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Bellevue
Milwaukee
The Verdict
Living in Milwaukee costs 71.7% less than Bellevue. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Bellevue, you would need $43,671 in Milwaukee.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Bellevue has the same purchasing power as $43,671 in Milwaukee.
Conversely, $75,000 in Milwaukee equals $128,804 in Bellevue.
Living in Bellevue vs Milwaukee
Housing Costs
Bellevue's housing index of 249 is higher Milwaukee's 80, translating to median home prices of $1.3M vs $175,000. The $1.1M difference in home prices means roughly $73,188 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,525/mo in Bellevue compared to $1,100/mo in Milwaukee, a monthly difference of $1,425.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 111 in Bellevue and 100 in Milwaukee. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $527/month in Bellevue vs $475/month in Milwaukee. Milwaukee offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $624/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 100 in Bellevue and 97 in Milwaukee. Monthly utility bills average approximately $400 in Bellevue vs $388 in Milwaukee. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 120 in Bellevue and 102 in Milwaukee. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 18-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $169,200 in Bellevue and $44,044 in Milwaukee. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $107,089 and $47,874 respectively. Bellevue residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $3,948/month to housing in Bellevue vs $1,028/month in Milwaukee. In Bellevue, median rent of $2,525/mo fits within this budget. In Milwaukee, median rent of $1,100/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 169 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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