Relocation: Chicago Metro, IL-IN to Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
Data updated · Sources: HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget, 2026 tax tables · Methodology
Income tax, HUD Fair Market Rents and EPI living costs for a move from Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN to Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI.
Interactive Purchasing Power Equivalency Workbench
Adjust your current salary at origin to dynamically compute the statutory tax burden, housing costs, and discretionary cash in both markets.
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
Itemized Cost of Living Expenditure Arbitrage
Category-by-category breakdown of monthly baseline consumption between origin and destination.
| Expenditure Category | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (Monthly) | Milwaukee-Waukesha (Monthly) | Monthly Delta ($) | Difference (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1BR Fair Market Rent) | $1,780 | $1,060 | -$720 | -40.4% |
| Food & Groceries | $385 | $364 | -$21 | -5.5% |
| Transportation | $947 | $951 | +$4 | +0.4% |
| Healthcare | $416 | $457 | +$41 | +9.9% |
| Other Necessities | $572 | $405 | -$167 | -29.2% |
| Total Taxes (Federal, State, Local, FICA) | $2,135 | $2,104 | -$31 | -1.5% |
HUD Fair Market Rent Differential
EPI Living Wage Benchmark Comparison
Top Local Occupations Wage Parity
BLS median wage comparisons across benchmark roles between both metropolitan labor markets.
| Occupation Title | Industry Sector | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin Median | Milwaukee-Waukesha Median | Nominal Wage Delta | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $109,390 | $125,490 | +$16,100 (+14.7%) | View Dossier |
| Registered Nurse (RN)Healthcare | Healthcare | $100,490 | $97,360 | -$3,130 (-3.1%) | View Dossier |
| Accountant & AuditorFinance | Finance | $82,360 | $80,290 | -$2,070 (-2.5%) | View Dossier |
| Financial ManagerFinance | Finance | $168,810 | $156,100 | -$12,710 (-7.5%) | View Dossier |
| Software EngineerTechnology | Technology | $134,380 | $123,730 | -$10,650 (-7.9%) | View Dossier |
| Management AnalystBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $105,090 | $102,900 | -$2,190 (-2.1%) | View Dossier |
| Sales ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $158,690 | $144,560 | -$14,130 (-8.9%) | View Dossier |
| Project Management SpecialistBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $105,320 | $100,350 | -$4,970 (-4.7%) | View Dossier |
| Computer and Information Systems ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $173,760 | $161,220 | -$12,540 (-7.2%) | View Dossier |
| Quality Control InspectorIndustrial Manufacturing | Industrial Manufacturing | $48,230 | $49,180 | +$950 (+2.0%) | View Dossier |
| ElectricianSkilled Trades | Skilled Trades | $102,350 | $77,800 | -$24,550 (-24.0%) | View Dossier |
| Financial AnalystFinance | Finance | $101,750 | $96,700 | -$5,050 (-5.0%) | View Dossier |
Major US Inter-Metro Relocation Corridors
Empirical cost differentials and statutory tax savings across high-volume migration routes.
On $100k: $8,301 less tax and $14,388 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $6,211 less tax and $17,676 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $4,805 less tax and $2,928 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $1,729 less tax and $19,884 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $4,113 less tax and $10,908 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $3,761 more tax and $4,188 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $1,299 less tax and $11,592 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $8,301 less tax and $7,296 less 1BR rent a year
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN to Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI Relocation FAQs
About $79,900. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (125.8 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, 100.5 in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN to Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI: State Paychecks, Rents & Reciprocal Corridor
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN to Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI: 2026 federal, state & local income tax, HUD Fair Market Rents & EPI living costs compared on. Official 2026 economic data for Relocation: Chicago Metro, IL-IN to Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
About $79,900. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (125.8 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, 100.5 in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
EPI's family budgets for a single adult put overall living costs 20.1% lower in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI than in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. The budgets cover housing, food, transportation, health care and other necessities.