Milwaukee vs Pittsburgh
Cost of living comparison — C2ER 2024-2025 data
Compare a different city:
VS
QUICK ANSWER
Pittsburgh is 6% cheaper than Milwaukee overall.Milwaukee has a cost of living index of 95 vs Pittsburgh at 89 (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing — Milwaukee costs 22% more.

Built by Pierre — MBA, Business Strategist & AI Consultant, Founder of DayblipAbout the author →
Milwaukee
WI
95
COLI index
VS
Pittsburgh
PA
89
COLI index
Category Breakdown
| Category | Milwaukee | Pittsburgh | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall COLI | 95 | 89 | -6% |
| Housing | 105 | 82 | -22% |
| Groceries | 101 | 101 | Same |
| Transport | 104 | 98 | -6% |
| Healthcare | 101 | 104 | +3% |
| Utilities | 106 | 110 | +4% |
Median 1BR Rent
Milwaukee
$1,050/mo
Pittsburgh
$1,100/mo
Median Home Price
Milwaukee
$195,000
Pittsburgh
$215,000
Median Household Income
Milwaukee
$45,389
Pittsburgh
$47,303
Share Your Result
Surprised by this number? Share it with friends and family
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore Related Tools
Last updated: June 2026
Methodology: Cost of living indices from C2ER Cost of Living Index 2024-2025. Rent data from Zillow December 2024. Home price data from Zillow Home Value Index December 2024. Household income from US Census Bureau ACS 2023. National average COLI = 100. Data updated annually.