Duluth vs Milwaukee
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Duluth
Milwaukee
💡 The Verdict
Milwaukee is 15% cheaper than Duluth overall. A $75,000 salary in Duluth is equivalent to $63,889 in Milwaukee.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Duluth (left) vs Milwaukee (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Duluth versus Milwaukee. Differences shown from Duluth perspective.
| Item | Duluth | Milwaukee | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $1,030/mo | $820/mo | +$210.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,310/mo | $1,100/mo | +$210.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,650/mo | $1,460/mo | +$190.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $3.00 | $2.84 | +$0.16 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.94 | $3.56 | +$0.38 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.46 | $3.27 | +$0.19 |
| Coffee (latte) | $6.36 | $5.48 | +$0.88 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.83 | $3.46 | +$0.37 |
| Restaurant Meal | $16.00 | $15.63 | +$0.37 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Duluth has the same purchasing power as $63,889 in Milwaukee.
Conversely, $75,000 in Milwaukee equals $88,043 in Duluth.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $1125 difference is driven by Minnesota having a higher state income tax rate. Minnesota details → · Wisconsin details →
Reading These Numbers: Duluth (108) vs Milwaukee (92)
Duluth at 108 is 8% above the US average, while Milwaukee at 92 is 8% below average. There is a meaningful cost gap between these two cities that affects day-to-day budgeting.
In Duluth, the composite index of 108 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 101, followed by groceries (109), utilities (101), transportation (110), and healthcare (112). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,310/mo in Duluth and $1,100/mo in Milwaukee, the annual rent difference is approximately $2,520.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $12,600.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $194,000.0 difference in median home prices between Duluth and Milwaukee translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Duluth vs Milwaukee
Choosing between Duluth and Milwaukee involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
Long-term affordability in Duluth versus Milwaukee depends partly on cost trajectory. Cities experiencing rapid population growth tend to see costs rise faster than established metros where supply has caught up with demand. While our index captures current conditions, consider whether the city trending cheaper today might converge toward average over the next five to ten years as more people discover it. Our quarterly updates help track these shifts over time.