City Comparison

Milwaukee vs Port St Lucie

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Milwaukee

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

Port St Lucie

Florida
99
Average
$384,000
Median Home
$1,800/mo
Median Rent
$81,100
Median Income

The Verdict

7.1%

The cost gap between these cities is 7.1%, with Milwaukee being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Milwaukee has equivalent purchasing power to $80,707 in Port St Lucie.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
80
Milwaukee
103
Port St Lucie
Groceries
100
Milwaukee
102
Port St Lucie
Utilities
97
Milwaukee
93
Port St Lucie
Transportation
103
Milwaukee
102
Port St Lucie
Healthcare
102
Milwaukee
96
Port St Lucie

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Milwaukee has the same purchasing power as $80,707 in Port St Lucie.

Conversely, $75,000 in Port St Lucie equals $69,697 in Milwaukee.

Living in Milwaukee vs Port St Lucie

Housing Costs

Milwaukee's housing index of 80 is lower Port St Lucie's 103, translating to median home prices of $175,000 vs $384,000. The $209,000 difference in home prices means roughly $13,584 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Milwaukee compared to $1,800/mo in Port St Lucie, a monthly difference of $700.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 100 in Milwaukee and 102 in Port St Lucie. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Milwaukee vs $485/month in Port St Lucie. 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 Milwaukee and 93 in Port St Lucie. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Milwaukee vs $372 in Port St Lucie. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Milwaukee and 96 in Port St Lucie. 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 $44,044 in Milwaukee and $81,100 in Port St Lucie. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $47,874 and $81,919 respectively. Port St Lucie residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,028/month to housing in Milwaukee vs $1,892/month in Port St Lucie. In Milwaukee, median rent of $1,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Port St Lucie, median rent of $1,800/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 23 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Milwaukee is 7.1% more affordable overall with an index of 92 vs 99.
A $75,000 salary in Milwaukee has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $80,707 in Port St Lucie, based on the cost of living difference.
Milwaukee's housing index is 80 with median homes at $175,000, while Port St Lucie's is 103 with median homes at $384,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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