City comparison
Milwaukee, WI vs Pittsburgh, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 2.4% higher than in Pittsburgh, PA. Someone earning $100,000 in Pittsburgh, PA would need about $102,400 in Milwaukee, WI to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,119 a month in Milwaukee, WI and $1,077 in Pittsburgh, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $849 a year higher in Milwaukee, WI than in Pittsburgh, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.1% moving from Milwaukee, WI to Pittsburgh, PA ($111,310 → $110,047), while prices change by −2.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.2% in real buying power.
- Milwaukee, WI: price level 96.9 (cheaper)
- Pittsburgh, PA: price level 94.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Milwaukee, WI | Pittsburgh, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.9 | 94.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,662 in Pittsburgh | $102,394 in Milwaukee |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,119/mo | $1,077/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,261 | $76,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,919 (WI) | $3,070 (PA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,160 | $49,650 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI | Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV |
Rent areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA and Pittsburgh, PA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI and Pittsburgh, PA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Milwaukee | Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 97.1 | 72.0 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 100.7 |
| Utilities | 91.6 | 107.7 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 97.7 |
| Overall | 96.9 | 94.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Milwaukee, WI → Pittsburgh, PA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.4%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$849/yr.
76 Strong offer
Pittsburgh, PA → Milwaukee, WI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.3%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$849/yr.
61 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Milwaukee, WI is in the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI pay area; Pittsburgh, PA is in Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV. The last column shows what a transfer from Milwaukee, WI to Pittsburgh, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Milwaukee, WI | Pittsburgh, PA | Real change, Milwaukee → Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,548 | $63,815 | +1.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,098 | $77,211 | +1.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,606 | $92,543 | +1.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,310 | $110,047 | +1.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,535 | $130,042 | +1.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Milwaukee, WI | Pittsburgh, PA | Pittsburgh pay in Milwaukee dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,480 | $76,550 | $78,382 (+27.5%) |
| Software Developers | $123,730 | $124,500 | $127,480 (+3.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,290 | $76,940 | $78,782 (−1.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,360 | $82,370 | $84,342 (−13.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.