City comparison
El Paso, TX vs Milwaukee, WI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 7.8% higher than in El Paso, TX. Someone earning $100,000 in El Paso, TX would need about $107,800 in Milwaukee, WI to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,119 a month in Milwaukee, WI versus $1,013 in El Paso, TX. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI and 15% in El Paso, TX.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,919 a year higher in Milwaukee, WI than in El Paso, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +4.6% moving from El Paso, TX to Milwaukee, WI ($106,437 → $111,310), while prices change by +7.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.0% in real buying power.
- El Paso, TX: price level 89.9 (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
| El Paso, TX | Milwaukee, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.9 | 96.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $107,813 in Milwaukee | $92,753 in El Paso |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,013/mo | $1,119/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,261 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $3,919 (WI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $39,510 | $51,160 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI |
Rent areas: El Paso, TX HUD Metro FMR Area and Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA. Metro areas: El Paso, TX and Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | El Paso | Milwaukee |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 71.2 | 97.1 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 82.6 | 91.6 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 99.4 |
| Overall | 89.9 | 96.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
El Paso, TX → Milwaukee, WI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.2%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$3,919/yr.
46 Fair offer
Milwaukee, WI → El Paso, TX
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.8%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$3,919/yr.
93 Strong offer
Federal employees: GS pay
El Paso, TX 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 El Paso, TX to Milwaukee, WI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | El Paso, TX | Milwaukee, WI | Real change, El Paso → Milwaukee |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $64,548 | −3.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $78,098 | −3.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $93,606 | −3.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $111,310 | −3.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $131,535 | −3.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | El Paso, TX | Milwaukee, WI | Milwaukee pay in El Paso dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $105,770 | $101,550 | $94,191 (−10.9%) |
| Software Developers | $127,310 | $123,730 | $114,763 (−9.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $65,990 | $80,290 | $74,471 (+12.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $86,100 | $97,360 | $90,304 (+4.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.