City comparison
Milwaukee, WI vs Oklahoma City, OK
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 7.2% higher than in Oklahoma City, OK. Someone earning $100,000 in Oklahoma City, OK would need about $107,200 in Milwaukee, WI to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,119 a month in Milwaukee, WI versus $1,017 in Oklahoma City, OK. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI and 16% in Oklahoma City, OK.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,919 a year in WI and $3,955 in OK.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.4% moving from Milwaukee, WI to Oklahoma City, OK ($111,310 → $106,437), while prices change by −6.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.5% in real buying power.
- Milwaukee, WI: price level 96.9 (cheaper)
- Oklahoma City, OK: price level 90.4 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Milwaukee, WI | Oklahoma City, OK | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.9 | 90.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $93,265 in Oklahoma City | $107,222 in Milwaukee |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,119/mo | $1,017/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,261 | $75,226 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,919 (WI) | $3,955 (OK) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 16% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,160 | $47,230 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA and Oklahoma City, OK HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI and Oklahoma City, OK.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Milwaukee | Oklahoma City |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 97.1 | 73.9 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 91.6 | 74.1 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 95.5 |
| Overall | 96.9 | 90.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Milwaukee, WI → Oklahoma City, OK
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.2%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax +$35/yr.
91 Strong offer
Oklahoma City, OK → Milwaukee, WI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.7%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$35/yr.
48 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Milwaukee, WI is in the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI pay area; Oklahoma City, OK is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Milwaukee, WI to Oklahoma City, OK at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Milwaukee, WI | Oklahoma City, OK | Real change, Milwaukee → Oklahoma City |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,548 | $61,722 | +2.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,098 | $74,678 | +2.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,606 | $89,508 | +2.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,310 | $106,437 | +2.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,535 | $125,776 | +2.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Milwaukee, WI | Oklahoma City, OK | Oklahoma City pay in Milwaukee dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,480 | $48,780 | $52,303 (−14.9%) |
| Software Developers | $123,730 | $122,390 | $131,229 (+6.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,290 | $77,280 | $82,861 (+3.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,360 | $82,920 | $88,908 (−8.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.