City comparison
Milwaukee, WI vs Spokane, WA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Spokane, WA are 3.5% higher than in Milwaukee, WI. Someone earning $100,000 in Milwaukee, WI would need about $103,500 in Spokane, WA to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,193 a month in Spokane, WA versus $1,119 in Milwaukee, WI. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Spokane, WA and 18% in Milwaukee, WI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,919 a year higher in Milwaukee, WI than in Spokane, WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.9% moving from Milwaukee, WI to Spokane, WA ($111,310 → $106,991), while prices change by +3.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −7.1% in real buying power.
- Milwaukee, WI: price level 96.9 (cheaper)
- Spokane, WA: price level 100.3 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Milwaukee, WI | Spokane, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.9 | 100.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $103,517 in Spokane | $96,603 in Milwaukee |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,119/mo | $1,193/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,261 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,919 (WI) | $0 (WA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,160 | $54,660 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI | Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID |
Rent areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA and Spokane, WA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI and Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Milwaukee | Spokane |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 97.1 | 97.1 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 105.0 |
| Utilities | 91.6 | 91.2 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 99.5 |
| Overall | 96.9 | 100.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Milwaukee, WI → Spokane, WA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.4%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$3,919/yr.
58 Fair offer
Spokane, WA → Milwaukee, WI
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.5%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$3,919/yr.
80 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Milwaukee, WI is in the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI pay area; Spokane, WA is in Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID. The last column shows what a transfer from Milwaukee, WI to Spokane, WA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Milwaukee, WI | Spokane, WA | Real change, Milwaukee → Spokane |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,548 | $62,044 | −7.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,098 | $75,068 | −7.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,606 | $89,974 | −7.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,310 | $106,991 | −7.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,535 | $126,432 | −7.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Milwaukee, WI | Spokane, WA | Spokane pay in Milwaukee dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,480 | $98,800 | $95,444 (+55.2%) |
| Software Developers | $123,730 | $130,690 | $126,250 (+2.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,290 | $86,350 | $83,416 (+3.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,360 | $111,750 | $107,954 (+10.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.