City Comparison

Concord vs Milwaukee

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Concord

North Carolina
96
Average
$380,000
Median Home
$1,350/mo
Median Rent
$86,900
Median Income

Milwaukee

Wisconsin
92
Below Average
$175,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$44,044
Median Income

The Verdict

4.3%

Living in Milwaukee costs 4.3% less than Concord. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Concord, you would need $71,875 in Milwaukee.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
89
Concord
80
Milwaukee
Groceries
97
Concord
100
Milwaukee
Utilities
97
Concord
97
Milwaukee
Transportation
92
Concord
103
Milwaukee
Healthcare
104
Concord
102
Milwaukee

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Concord has the same purchasing power as $71,875 in Milwaukee.

Conversely, $75,000 in Milwaukee equals $78,261 in Concord.

Living in Concord vs Milwaukee

Housing Costs

Concord's housing index of 89 is higher Milwaukee's 80, translating to median home prices of $380,000 vs $175,000. The $205,000 difference in home prices means roughly $13,320 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,350/mo in Concord compared to $1,100/mo in Milwaukee, a monthly difference of $250.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Concord and 100 in Milwaukee. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Concord vs $475/month in Milwaukee. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Concord and 97 in Milwaukee. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Concord vs $388 in Milwaukee. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Concord and 102 in Milwaukee. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $86,900 in Concord and $44,044 in Milwaukee. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $90,521 and $47,874 respectively. Concord residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,028/month to housing in Concord vs $1,028/month in Milwaukee. In Concord, median rent of $1,350/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 Transportation, where the gap is 11 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Milwaukee is 4.3% more affordable overall with an index of 92 vs 96.
A $75,000 salary in Concord has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $71,875 in Milwaukee, based on the cost of living difference.
Concord's housing index is 89 with median homes at $380,000, while Milwaukee's is 80 with median homes at $175,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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