Cost of living in the Milwaukee Metro Area
4 counties across WI. Population: 1,566,361.
Last updated May 22, 2026
Rent in the Milwaukee Metro Area
Average rent across the Milwaukee-Waukesha metro area, weighted by county population.
Source: HUD FMR + ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Income and earnings in the Milwaukee Metro Area
Earnings data averaged across all 4 counties.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Home values in the Milwaukee Metro Area
Average home values and annual property tax across the metro.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Energy costs in the Milwaukee Metro Area
Residential electricity and natural gas estimates.
Source: EIA (state averages applied per county, weighted)
All 4 counties in the Milwaukee Metro Area
The Milwaukee-Waukesha metro area includes 4 counties. Sorted by population.
- Milwaukee WI$3,102/moPop927,656 Rent$1,056/mo Income$62,118/yrMilwaukee WI 927,656 $1,056/mo $62,118/yr $3,102/mo
- Waukesha County WI$3,402/moPop409,040 Rent$1,056/mo Income$104,100/yrWaukesha County WI 409,040 $1,056/mo $104,100/yr $3,402/mo
- Washington County WI$3,329/moPop137,320 Rent$1,056/mo Income$95,851/yrWashington County WI 137,320 $1,056/mo $95,851/yr $3,329/mo
- Ozaukee County WI$3,320/moPop92,345 Rent$1,056/mo Income$96,734/yrOzaukee County WI 92,345 $1,056/mo $96,734/yr $3,320/mo
Compare counties in the Milwaukee Metro Area
Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up across the metro.
Open comparison toolFrequently asked questions about the Milwaukee Metro Area
Common questions about cost of living in the metro area.
What is the cost of living in the Milwaukee Metro Area?
The estimated average cost of living in the Milwaukee-Waukesha metro area is approximately $3,213 per month for a single person. This is a population-weighted average across the 4 counties that make up the metro area.
What is the average rent in the Milwaukee Metro Area?
The average one-bedroom rent across the Milwaukee-Waukesha metro area is $1,056 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data weighted by county population.
What is the cheapest county in the Milwaukee Metro Area?
Milwaukee County, WI is the most affordable county in the Milwaukee-Waukesha metro area at approximately $3,102 per month for a single person.
What is the most expensive county in the Milwaukee Metro Area?
Waukesha County, WI is the most expensive county in the Milwaukee-Waukesha metro area at approximately $3,402 per month for a single person.
How many counties are in the Milwaukee Metro Area?
The Milwaukee-Waukesha metro area covers 4 counties. The five largest by population are Milwaukee, Waukesha County, Washington County, Ozaukee County.
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About this data
All figures come from official U.S. government sources. Metro-area averages are population-weighted across constituent counties using Census ACS population estimates.