City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Milwaukee, WI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Charleston, SC are 4.2% higher than in Milwaukee, WI. Someone earning $100,000 in Milwaukee, WI would need about $104,200 in Charleston, SC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,630 a month in Charleston, SC versus $1,119 in Milwaukee, WI. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Charleston, SC and 18% in Milwaukee, WI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $923 a year higher in Charleston, SC than in Milwaukee, WI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +4.6% moving from Charleston, SC to Milwaukee, WI ($106,437 → $111,310), while prices change by −4.0%. Net effect of the transfer: +8.9% in real buying power.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- 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
| Charleston, SC | Milwaukee, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 96.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,013 in Milwaukee | $104,152 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $1,119/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $75,261 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $3,919 (WI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $51,160 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Milwaukee |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 97.1 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 91.6 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 99.4 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 96.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Milwaukee, WI
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.2%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$923/yr.
82 Strong offer
Milwaukee, WI → Charleston, SC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.0%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$923/yr.
54 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Charleston, SC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Milwaukee, WI is in Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI. The last column shows what a transfer from Charleston, SC to Milwaukee, WI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Milwaukee, WI | Real change, Charleston → Milwaukee |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $64,548 | +8.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $78,098 | +8.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $93,606 | +8.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $111,310 | +8.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $131,535 | +8.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Milwaukee, WI | Milwaukee pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $61,480 | $64,033 (+4.9%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $123,730 | $128,867 (−2.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $80,290 | $83,624 (+5.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $97,360 | $101,403 (+9.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.