Carter Lake, IA vs West Milwaukee, WI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

West Milwaukee, WI has a modeled overall cost index 0.3% lower than Carter Lake, IA.

Carter Lake, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,340 / month
West Milwaukee, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,140 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Carter Lake, IA and West Milwaukee, WI using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $62.24/month in West Milwaukee, WI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,747 in West Milwaukee, WI

Regional cost estimates: Carter Lake, IA uses Omaha, NE. West Milwaukee, WI uses Milwaukee, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 0.3%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$62.24
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$747
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Carter Lake, IA

Population:4K
Cost Index:
81.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$197K

West Milwaukee, WI

Population:4K
Cost Index:
81.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$210K

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Carter Lake, IA

The Hawkeye State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 4K residents.

West Milwaukee, WI

The Badger State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 4K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Carter Lake, IA vs West Milwaukee, WI

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↓ 8.9%
Carter Lake, IA
$2,035
West Milwaukee, WI
$1,854
Difference
$181
less
Transportation
↑ 12.9%
Carter Lake, IA
$1,335
West Milwaukee, WI
$1,507
Difference
$172
more
All Utilities
↑ 8.0%
Carter Lake, IA
$534
West Milwaukee, WI
$576
Difference
$42.67
more
Healthcare
↑ 5.3%
Carter Lake, IA
$774
West Milwaukee, WI
$815
Difference
$41.12
more
Other
↓ 1.3%
Carter Lake, IA
$1,744
West Milwaukee, WI
$1,722
Difference
$22.61
less
Groceries
↑ 0.9%
Carter Lake, IA
$1,078
West Milwaukee, WI
$1,088
Difference
$9.89
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,070
To$870
↓ $200
1 Bed
From$1,120
To$960
↓ $160
2 Bed
From$1,340
To$1,140
↓ $200
3 Bed
From$1,780
To$1,410
↓ $370
Carter Lake, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,120–$1,120/mo

West Milwaukee, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $960–$960/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Carter Lake, IA
$7,562
Monthly in West Milwaukee, WI
$62.24
Difference

Home Values

Carter Lake
West Milwaukee
$197K
Median Value
$210K
↑ +2%
YoY Change
↑ +3.3%
↑ +45.5%
5-Year Change
↑ +50.4%

Homes in West Milwaukee are 6% more expensive than Carter Lake

Calculate payment - Carter LakeCalculate payment - West Milwaukee

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $1.9K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$154
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.2%
Rate difference

Carter Lake, IA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Iowa State Tax
Effective: 7.1%
$10.7K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.8%
$47.7K
Take-Home Pay
$8,524/month
$102.3K

West Milwaukee, WI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Wisconsin State Tax
Effective: 5.9%
$8.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.6%
$45.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,678/month
$104.1K

Additional Tax Information

Carter Lake, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

West Milwaukee, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Carter Lake
West Milwaukee
45 Good
Air Quality
43 Good
63.7%
Good Air Days
68.6%
96 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
35 days
Heat Days >95°F
13 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
35 days
Heat Days >95°F
13 days

Before moving from Carter Lake, IA to West Milwaukee, WI

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in West Milwaukee, WI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Carter Lake, IA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Carter Lake to West Milwaukee moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to West Milwaukee, WI by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Carter Lake, IA vs West Milwaukee, WI

How do the cost estimates for Carter Lake, IA and West Milwaukee, WI compare?

West Milwaukee, WI has a modeled overall cost index 0.3% lower than Carter Lake, IA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Carter Lake, IA, the model estimates $150,747 in West Milwaukee, WI. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Carter Lake, IA and West Milwaukee, WI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,340/month in Carter Lake, IA and $1,140/month in West Milwaukee, WI. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Iowa and Wisconsin on TaxTakeHome.com

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