Madison, OH vs West Milwaukee, WI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

West Milwaukee, WI has a modeled overall cost index 9.0% higher than Madison, OH.

Madison, OH · modeled 2BR rent
$1,330 / 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 Madison, OH 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: $529/month in West Milwaukee, WI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $156,346 in West Milwaukee, WI

Regional cost estimates: Madison, OH uses Cleveland, OH. West Milwaukee, WI uses Milwaukee, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 9.0%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$529
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$6.3K
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.

Madison, OH

Population:3K
Cost Index:
74.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$222K

West Milwaukee, WI

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

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Madison, OH

The Buckeye State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Ohio, this city has a population of 3K 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: Madison, OH 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
↑ 13.6%
Madison, OH
$1,733
West Milwaukee, WI
$1,968
Difference
$235
more
Healthcare
↑ 35.2%
Madison, OH
$640
West Milwaukee, WI
$865
Difference
$226
more
All Utilities
↑ 8.4%
Madison, OH
$564
West Milwaukee, WI
$612
Difference
$47.57
more
Other
↑ 1.4%
Madison, OH
$1,803
West Milwaukee, WI
$1,828
Difference
$24.91
more
Groceries
↓ 1.9%
Madison, OH
$1,178
West Milwaukee, WI
$1,155
Difference
$22.60
less
Transportation
↑ 1.2%
Madison, OH
$1,582
West Milwaukee, WI
$1,600
Difference
$18.35
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$970
To$870
↓ $100
1 Bed
From$1,100
To$960
↓ $140
2 Bed
From$1,330
To$1,140
↓ $190
3 Bed
From$1,710
To$1,410
↓ $300
Madison, OHZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,100–$1,100/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 Madison, OH
$8,029
Monthly in West Milwaukee, WI
$529
Difference

Home Values

Madison
West Milwaukee
$222K
Median Value
$210K
↑ +2.9%
YoY Change
↑ +3.3%
↑ +37.6%
5-Year Change
↑ +50.4%

Homes in West Milwaukee are 5% less expensive than Madison

Calculate payment - MadisonCalculate payment - West Milwaukee

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $4.4K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$369
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
2.9%
Rate difference

Madison, OH

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Ohio State Tax
Effective: 3.0%
$4.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.6%
$41.4K
Take-Home Pay
$9,047/month
$108.6K

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

Madison, OH Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%
Property Tax:1.6%

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

Madison
West Milwaukee
54 Moderate
Air Quality
43 Good
37.2%
Good Air Days
68.6%
98 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
11 days
Heat Days >95°F
13 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
11 days
Heat Days >95°F
13 days

Before moving from Madison, OH 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 Madison, OH. 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 Madison 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: Madison, OH vs West Milwaukee, WI

How do the cost estimates for Madison, OH and West Milwaukee, WI compare?

West Milwaukee, WI has a modeled overall cost index 9.0% higher than Madison, OH. 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 Madison, OH, the model estimates $156,346 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 Madison, OH and West Milwaukee, WI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,330/month in Madison, OH 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 Ohio and Wisconsin on TaxTakeHome.com

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