CostIndexUSA

Little Rock, AR vs Milwaukee, WI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableAR
Little Rock
89.4
overall index
$1,200/mo rent
WI
Milwaukee
96.9
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

Little Rock is moderately cheaper than Milwaukee — 8.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Little Rock, you would need $86,700 in Milwaukee. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+42.2%
Little Rock
68.3
Milwaukee
97.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Little Rock
93.6
Milwaukee
93.8
🚗 Transportation+4.3%
Little Rock
100.1
Milwaukee
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+4.3%
Little Rock
90.5
Milwaukee
94.4
Utilities+22.8%
Little Rock
74.6
Milwaukee
91.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Milwaukee, WI
$86,700
$6,700 more needed in Milwaukee

Formula: salary × (96.9 ÷ 89.4) = salary × 1.0839. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Little Rock, AR

Median Home Price
$222,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,200
Housing Index
68.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.4×

Milwaukee, WI

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

Milwaukee has 42.2% higher housing costs compared to Little Rock.

Income & Job Market

Little Rock, AR

Median Household Income
$66,200
Per Capita Income
$37,700
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
202,591
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareRetailFinanceManufacturing

Milwaukee, WI

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

Affordability at a Glance

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

Little Rock, AR
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Milwaukee, WI
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.