City Comparison

Everett vs Milwaukee

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Everett

Washington
136
Expensive
$575,000
Median Home
$1,800/mo
Median Rent
$75,400
Median Income

Milwaukee

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

The Verdict

47.8%

Living in Milwaukee costs 47.8% less than Everett. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Everett, you would need $50,735 in Milwaukee.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
192
Everett
80
Milwaukee
Groceries
109
Everett
100
Milwaukee
Utilities
92
Everett
97
Milwaukee
Transportation
117
Everett
103
Milwaukee
Healthcare
122
Everett
102
Milwaukee

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Everett has the same purchasing power as $50,735 in Milwaukee.

Conversely, $75,000 in Milwaukee equals $110,870 in Everett.

Living in Everett vs Milwaukee

Housing Costs

Everett's housing index of 192 is higher Milwaukee's 80, translating to median home prices of $575,000 vs $175,000. The $400,000 difference in home prices means roughly $26,004 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,800/mo in Everett compared to $1,100/mo in Milwaukee, a monthly difference of $700.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 109 in Everett and 100 in Milwaukee. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $518/month in Everett vs $475/month in Milwaukee. Milwaukee offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 92 in Everett and 97 in Milwaukee. Monthly utility bills average approximately $368 in Everett vs $388 in Milwaukee. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 122 in Everett and 102 in Milwaukee. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 20-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $75,400 in Everett and $44,044 in Milwaukee. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $55,441 and $47,874 respectively. Everett residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,759/month to housing in Everett vs $1,028/month in Milwaukee. In Everett, median rent of $1,800/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. 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 112 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Milwaukee is 47.8% more affordable overall with an index of 92 vs 136.
A $75,000 salary in Everett has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $50,735 in Milwaukee, based on the cost of living difference.
Everett's housing index is 192 with median homes at $575,000, while Milwaukee's is 80 with median homes at $175,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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