Milwaukee vs Youngstown
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Milwaukee
Youngstown
The Verdict
Youngstown is 12.2% less expensive than Milwaukee overall. A household earning $75,000 in Milwaukee would need approximately $66,848 in Youngstown to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Milwaukee has the same purchasing power as $66,848 in Youngstown.
Conversely, $75,000 in Youngstown equals $84,146 in Milwaukee.
Living in Milwaukee vs Youngstown
Housing Costs
Milwaukee's housing index of 80 is higher Youngstown's 41, translating to median home prices of $175,000 vs $102,000. The $73,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,740 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Milwaukee compared to $725/mo in Youngstown, a monthly difference of $375.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 100 in Milwaukee and 98 in Youngstown. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Milwaukee vs $466/month in Youngstown. 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 96 in Youngstown. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Milwaukee vs $384 in Youngstown. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Milwaukee and 90 in Youngstown. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 12-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $44,044 in Milwaukee and $34,600 in Youngstown. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $47,874 and $42,195 respectively. Milwaukee residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,028/month to housing in Milwaukee vs $807/month in Youngstown. In Milwaukee, median rent of $1,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Youngstown, median rent of $725/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 39 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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