CostIndexUSA

Milwaukee, WI vs St. Petersburg, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableWI
Milwaukee
96.9
overall index
$1,450/mo rent
FL
St. Petersburg
100.9
overall index
$1,975/mo rent

Milwaukee is slightly cheaper than St. Petersburg — 4.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Milwaukee, you would need $83,300 in St. Petersburg. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+29.6%
Milwaukee
97.1
St. Petersburg
125.8
🛒 Groceries+1.8%
Milwaukee
93.8
St. Petersburg
95.5
🚗 Transportation1.9%
Milwaukee
104.4
St. Petersburg
102.4
🏥 Healthcare1.8%
Milwaukee
94.4
St. Petersburg
92.7
Utilities3.4%
Milwaukee
91.6
St. Petersburg
88.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Milwaukee to see what you'd need to earn in St. Petersburg to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in St. Petersburg, FL
$83,300
$3,300 more needed in St. Petersburg

Formula: salary × (100.9 ÷ 96.9) = salary × 1.0413. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Milwaukee, WI

Median Home Price
$363,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
97.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.9×

St. Petersburg, FL

Median Home Price
$352,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,975
Housing Index
125.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.9×

St. Petersburg has 29.6% higher housing costs compared to Milwaukee.

Income & Job Market

Milwaukee, WI

Median Household Income
$77,000
Per Capita Income
$43,900
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
Population
577,222
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareFinanceEducationRetail

St. Petersburg, FL

Median Household Income
$72,700
Per Capita Income
$41,400
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
258,308
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceTourismTechnologyRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Milwaukee, WI
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

St. Petersburg, FL
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.