How much does it cost to rent in Milwaukee, WI?

As of June 2026, the median monthly rent in Milwaukee, WI is $1,450. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Milwaukee cheaper than other Wisconsin cities?

Milwaukee falls in the middle range for Wisconsin, ranking #27 out of 60 cities at $1,450/mo.

When was Milwaukee rent data last updated?

Milwaukee rent data reflects June 2026 and was last refreshed on June 22, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

Federico Ramirez / Unsplash

City Report · WI

Milwaukee

Name: Average Rent Prices in Milwaukee, WI
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 566,973·27th most expensive in Wisconsin·Milwaukee rents are up 6.5% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,450/mo

Year-over-Year

+6.5%

Month-over-Month

-0.8%

vs US Median

-$501

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Milwaukee · $1,450

More affordable than 79% of US cities · National median $1,951/mo

Rent Reality Score

47/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Milwaukee's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$1,450/mo

Expected by trend

$1,426/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Milwaukee's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$916

1 BR

$1,033

2 BR

$1,229

3 BR

$1,524

4 BR+

$1,665

Research median

$1,229/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: June 22, 2026

Annual cost

$17,400/yr

At $1,450/mo median

Market timing

Rents falling

Good time to negotiate or lock in a lease.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Milwaukee, WI is majority renter-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 27.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

566,973

Median income

$54,234

Median age

32.4

Renters

58.2%

Age distribution

25.4%

28.7%

23.7%

Under 1825.4%

18–3428.7%

35–5423.7%

55–6410.2%

65+12%

Gender

48.4%

51.6%

Male48.4%

Female51.6%

Race & ethnicity

34.2%

38.5%

20.9%

White34.2%

Black38.5%

Hispanic20.9%

Asian5.1%

Other1.2%

Education (25+)

14.5%

30.4%

27.7%

27.4%

No HS diploma14.5%

HS diploma30.4%

Some college27.7%

Bachelor's+27.4%

Housing tenure

41.8%

58.2%

Owner41.8%

Renter58.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Milwaukee, WI has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,097 → $1,450

up 32.2%

Income

$45,318 → $54,234

up 19.7%

Population

578,198 → 566,973

down 1.9%

Renter share

59.1% → 58.2%

-0.9 pts

Bachelor's+

25.5% → 27.4%

+1.9 pts

Median age

31.6 → 32.4

+0.8 yrs

Five years ago, renters in Milwaukee, WI paid around $1,097 a month. That figure now sits near $1,450, up 32.2% from the 2021 baseline. Household income in the area moved from $45,318 to $54,234 across the same window, up 19.7% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Milwaukee, WI losing about 11,225 residents over the five-year window, down 1.9% on net. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Milwaukee, WI look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about Milwaukee

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View Milwaukee rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Milwaukee on your salary?

At $1,450/mo, how Milwaukee rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $89,756/yr · Rent = 19.4% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $63,726/yr · Rent = 27.3% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $73,407/yr · Rent = 23.7% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $131,205/yr · Rent = 13.3% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $167,647/yr · Rent = 10.4% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $59,670/yr · Rent = 29.2% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $53,875/yr · Rent = 32.3% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $66,405/yr · Rent = 26.2% income

affordable

By apartment size

Milwaukee rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Milwaukee. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Milwaukee

About renting in Milwaukee, WI

Last updated: June 22, 2026

The median rent in Milwaukee is $1,450/mo as of June 2026. A studio apartment averages $916/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,229/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,033/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,524/mo.

At 32% of local median household income ($54,234/yr), Milwaukee ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Milwaukee an affordable city for renters?

Milwaukee is considered moderate for renters. At $1,450/mo, rent takes approximately 32% of the local median household income ($54,234/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Milwaukee slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Milwaukee?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $58,000/year (~$28/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,450/mo in Milwaukee. The local median household income is $54,234/yr, meaning the typical Milwaukee household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Milwaukee?

Rent in Milwaukee has increased 6.5% over the past year as of June 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Milwaukee neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Milwaukee are 53206 ($973/mo), 53215 ($1,014/mo), and 53216 ($1,177/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Milwaukee is $1,450/mo.

How does Milwaukee rent compare to other cities in Wisconsin?

Milwaukee is middle-of-the-pack for Wisconsin for rent, ranking #27 out of 60 tracked cities at $1,450/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Milwaukee?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Milwaukee ($1,450/mo): Shorewood ($1,344/mo), West Allis ($1,439/mo).

What percentage of Milwaukee residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 58.2% of Milwaukee households are renters, while 41.8% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Milwaukee has a strong rental market.

How does Milwaukee rent compare to the national average?

Milwaukee's median rent of $1,450/mo is $501 (26%) below the US national median of $1,951/mo. Within Wisconsin, it ranks #27 out of 60 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

32%

MODERATE

At $1,450/mo, rent takes ~32% of Milwaukee's median household income ($54,234/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Milwaukee 32%Benchmark 30%

State income tax3.5–7.65%

Run the Milwaukee affordability calculator →

Nearby cities