New Berlin, WI vs Wauwatosa, WI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Wauwatosa, WI has a modeled overall cost index 0.4% higher than New Berlin, WI.

New Berlin, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,635 / month
Wauwatosa, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,505 / 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 New Berlin, WI and Wauwatosa, 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

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Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $22.56/month in Wauwatosa, WI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,271 in Wauwatosa, WI

Regional cost estimates: New Berlin, WI uses Milwaukee, WI. Wauwatosa, WI uses Milwaukee, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 0.4%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$22.56
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$271
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.

New Berlin, WI

Population:40K
Cost Index:
85.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$423K

Wauwatosa, WI

Population:47K
Cost Index:
86.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$392K

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New Berlin, WI

The Badger State

40K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 40K residents.

Wauwatosa, WI

The Badger State

47K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 47K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: New Berlin, WI vs Wauwatosa, 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
↑ 0.4%
New Berlin, WI
$1,855
Wauwatosa, WI
$1,862
Difference
$6.65
more
Other
↑ 0.4%
New Berlin, WI
$1,723
Wauwatosa, WI
$1,729
Difference
$6.18
more
Transportation
↑ 0.4%
New Berlin, WI
$1,508
Wauwatosa, WI
$1,514
Difference
$5.41
more
Groceries
↑ 0.2%
New Berlin, WI
$1,059
Wauwatosa, WI
$1,061
Difference
$1.90
more
Healthcare
↑ 0.2%
New Berlin, WI
$794
Wauwatosa, WI
$795
Difference
$1.42
more
All Utilities
↑ 0.2%
New Berlin, WI
$561
Wauwatosa, WI
$562
Difference
$1.01
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,255
To$1,155
↓ $100
1 Bed
From$1,365
To$1,260
↓ $105
2 Bed
From$1,635
To$1,505
↓ $130
3 Bed
From$2,010
To$1,855
↓ $155
New Berlin, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,200–$1,530/mo

Wauwatosa, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,230–$1,290/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 New Berlin, WI
$7,523
Monthly in Wauwatosa, WI
$22.56
Difference

Home Values

New Berlin
Wauwatosa
$423K
Median Value
$392K
↑ +4.2%
YoY Change
↑ +4.2%
↑ +35.1%
5-Year Change
↑ +37.8%
$419K - $428K
Price Range
$385K - $399K

Homes in Wauwatosa are 7% less expensive than New Berlin

Calculate payment - New BerlinCalculate payment - Wauwatosa

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
→ $0
Same taxes
Monthly Difference
$0
Same take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.0%
Rate difference

New Berlin, 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

Wauwatosa, 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

New Berlin, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

Wauwatosa, 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

New Berlin
Wauwatosa
43 Good
Air Quality
43 Good
68.6%
Good Air Days
68.6%
98 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
13 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
13 days

Before moving from New Berlin, WI to Wauwatosa, 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 Wauwatosa, WI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in New Berlin, WI. 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 New Berlin to Wauwatosa moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: New Berlin, WI vs Wauwatosa, WI

How do the cost estimates for New Berlin, WI and Wauwatosa, WI compare?

Wauwatosa, WI has a modeled overall cost index 0.4% higher than New Berlin, 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 New Berlin, WI, the model estimates $150,271 in Wauwatosa, 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 New Berlin, WI and Wauwatosa, WI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,635/month in New Berlin, WI and $1,505/month in Wauwatosa, 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.

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