City comparison
Canton, OH vs Milwaukee, WI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 8.4% higher than in Canton, OH. Someone earning $100,000 in Canton, OH would need about $108,400 in Milwaukee, WI to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,119 a month in Milwaukee, WI versus $846 in Canton, OH. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI and 13% in Canton, OH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,952 a year higher in Milwaukee, WI than in Canton, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.2% moving from Canton, OH to Milwaukee, WI ($111,138 → $111,310), while prices change by +8.4%. Net effect of the transfer: −7.6% in real buying power.
- Canton, OH: price level 89.4 (much cheaper)
- Milwaukee, WI: price level 96.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Canton, OH | Milwaukee, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.4 | 96.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $108,423 in Milwaukee | $92,231 in Canton |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $846/mo | $1,119/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $77,212 | $75,261 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $1,968 (OH) | $3,919 (WI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 13% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,810 | $51,160 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI |
Rent areas: Canton-Massillon, OH MSA and Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA. Metro areas: Canton-Massillon, OH and Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Canton | Milwaukee |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 58.1 | 97.1 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 96.9 | 91.6 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 99.4 |
| Overall | 89.4 | 96.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Canton, OH → Milwaukee, WI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.8%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$1,952/yr.
44 Weak offer
Milwaukee, WI → Canton, OH
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.4%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax −$1,952/yr.
95 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Canton, OH is in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA pay area; Milwaukee, WI is in Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI. The last column shows what a transfer from Canton, OH to Milwaukee, WI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Canton, OH | Milwaukee, WI | Real change, Canton → Milwaukee |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,448 | $64,548 | −7.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,977 | $78,098 | −7.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,461 | $93,606 | −7.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,138 | $111,310 | −7.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,331 | $131,535 | −7.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Canton, OH | Milwaukee, WI | Milwaukee pay in Canton dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $77,940 | $61,480 | $56,704 (−27.2%) |
| Software Developers | $105,500 | $123,730 | $114,117 (+8.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $72,170 | $80,290 | $74,052 (+2.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,610 | $97,360 | $89,796 (+12.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.