Sacramento vs Milwaukee: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Sacramento, CA and Milwaukee, WI, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Sacramento, CA | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 523,600 | 573,299 |
| Median household income | $78,954 | $49,733 |
| Median home value | $450,500 | $157,800 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,592 | $982 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Sacramento, CA and Milwaukee, WI comes down to what you value most. Milwaukee has the lower median home value, and Milwaukee has the lower median rent.
Sacramento has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Sacramento or Milwaukee?
- By median home value, Milwaukee is the cheaper of the two ($157,800 vs $450,500). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Sacramento or Milwaukee?
- Median household income is $78,954 in Sacramento versus $49,733 in Milwaukee, per the US Census Bureau.