Cross Plains, WI vs Milford, MI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Milford, MI has a modeled overall cost index 16.6% lower than Cross Plains, WI.

Cross Plains, WI · modeled 2BR rent: $1,610 / month
Milford, MI · modeled 2BR rent: $1,675 / 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 Cross Plains, WI and Milford, MI 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

Current salary in Cross Plains, WI

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,107/month in Milford, MI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $136,717 in Milford, MI

Regional cost estimates: Cross Plains, WI uses Madison, WI. Milford, MI uses Detroit, MI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 16.6%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,107

Savings

Annual Impact

$13.3K

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.

Cross Plains, WI

Population:4K

Cost Index:

95.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$517K

Milford, MI

Population:6K

Cost Index:

79.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$487K

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Cross Plains, WI

The Badger State

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Milford, MI

The Great Lakes State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Michigan, this city has a population of 6K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Cross Plains, WI vs Milford, MI

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.

Category	Cross Plains, WI	Milford, MI	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,333/mo	$1,315/mo	↓ $1,018less	43.7%
Healthcare	$709/mo	$555/mo	↓ $154less	21.7%
Transportation	$1,324/mo	$1,471/mo	↑ $148more	11.1%
Other	$1,685/mo	$1,568/mo	↓ $117less	7.0%
All Utilities	$502/mo	$549/mo	↑ $47.30more	9.4%
Groceries	$947/mo	$935/mo	↓ $11.98less	1.3%

Housing

↓ 43.7%

Cross Plains, WI

$2,333

Milford, MI

$1,315

Difference

$1,018

less

Healthcare

↓ 21.7%

Cross Plains, WI

$709

Milford, MI

$555

Difference

$154

less

Transportation

↑ 11.1%

Cross Plains, WI

$1,324

Milford, MI

$1,471

Difference

$148

Other

↓ 7.0%

Cross Plains, WI

$1,685

Milford, MI

$1,568

Difference

$117

less

All Utilities

↑ 9.4%

Cross Plains, WI

$502

Milford, MI

$549

Difference

$47.30

Groceries

↓ 1.3%

Cross Plains, WI

$947

Milford, MI

$935

Difference

$11.98

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,210

To$1,195

↓ $15.00

1 Bed

From$1,410

To$1,345

↓ $65.00

2 Bed

From$1,610

To$1,675

↑ $65.00

3 Bed

From$2,130

To$2,090

↓ $40.00

Cross Plains, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,410–$1,410/mo

Milford, MIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,170–$1,520/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 Cross Plains, WI

$6,393

Monthly in Milford, MI

$1,107

Difference

Home Values

Cross Plains

Milford

$517K

Median Value

$487K

↑ +3.7%

YoY Change

↑ +3.2%

↑ +35.7%

5-Year Change

↑ +35%

$517K

Price Range

$444K - $530K

Homes in Milford are 6% less expensive than Cross Plains

Calculate payment - Cross Plains Calculate payment - Milford

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $2.5K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$206

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

1.6%

Rate difference

Cross Plains, 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

Milford, MI

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Michigan State Tax

Effective: 4.3%

$6.4K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 28.9%

$43.4K

Take-Home Pay

$8,884/month

$106.6K

Additional Tax Information

Cross Plains, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%

Property Tax:1.8%

Milford, MI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%

Property Tax:1.4%

💡 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

Cross Plains

Milford

42 Good

Air Quality

55 Moderate

72.1%

Good Air Days

32.8%

94 Moderate

Climate Risk

99 High

🌊🌪💨

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.1°F

10 days

Heat Days >95°F

10 days

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.1°F

10 days

Heat Days >95°F

10 days

Before moving from Cross Plains, WI to Milford, MI

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Milford, MI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Cross Plains, WI. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
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.
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.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Cross Plains to Milford moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Milford, MI by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Cross Plains, WI vs Milford, MI

How do the cost estimates for Cross Plains, WI and Milford, MI compare?

Milford, MI has a modeled overall cost index 16.6% lower than Cross Plains, WI. 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 Cross Plains, WI, the model estimates $136,717 in Milford, MI. 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 Cross Plains, WI and Milford, MI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,610/month in Cross Plains, WI and $1,675/month in Milford, MI. 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 Wisconsin and Michigan on TaxTakeHome.com