CostIndexUSA

Milwaukee, WI vs Visalia, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableWI
Milwaukee
96.9
overall index
$1,450/mo rent
CA
Visalia
99.8
overall index
$1,775/mo rent

Milwaukee is slightly cheaper than Visalia — 3.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Milwaukee, you would need $82,400 in Visalia. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing13.4%
Milwaukee
97.1
Visalia
84.1
🛒 Groceries+12.2%
Milwaukee
93.8
Visalia
105.2
🚗 Transportation+0.9%
Milwaukee
104.4
Visalia
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+1.0%
Milwaukee
94.4
Visalia
95.3
Utilities+70.7%
Milwaukee
91.6
Visalia
156.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Visalia, CA
$82,400
$2,400 more needed in Visalia

Formula: salary × (99.8 ÷ 96.9) = salary × 1.0299. 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×

Visalia, CA

Median Home Price
$352,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,775
Housing Index
84.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.5×

Milwaukee has 13.4% lower housing costs compared to Visalia.

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

Visalia, CA

Median Household Income
$73,100
Per Capita Income
$41,700
Unemployment Rate
8.2%
Population
141,384
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailGovernment

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)

Visalia, CA
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.