Studio Apartment Rent in Milwaukee, WI
Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as of October 2026. That's +37% lower than the citywide median of $1,443 and +29% below the national studio median of $1,290.
Income needed for a studio in Milwaukee
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a studio at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in Milwaukee
Compare Milwaukee's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a studio in Wisconsin
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stevens Point | $680 |
| 2 | Marshfield | $690 |
| 3 | Two Rivers | $710 |
| 4 | Wisconsin Rapids | $715 |
| 5 | Superior | $720 |
| 6 | Wausau | $725 |
| 7 | Appleton | $733 |
| 8 | Brown Deer | $734 |
| 9 | Oshkosh | $740 |
| 10 | Tomah | $740 |
| 11 | Beaver Dam | $750 |
| 12 | Fond du Lac | $760 |
| 13 | Mount Pleasant | $760 |
| 14 | Plover | $760 |
| 15 | Green Bay | $770 |
Most expensive cities for a studio in Wisconsin
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monona | $1,565 |
| 2 | Glendale | $1,411 |
| 3 | Brookfield | $1,410 |
| 4 | Hudson | $1,250 |
| 5 | Verona | $1,220 |
| 6 | Fitchburg | $1,208 |
| 7 | Oak Creek | $1,200 |
| 8 | Madison | $1,141 |
| 9 | Shorewood | $1,140 |
| 10 | Menomonee Falls | $1,140 |
| 11 | Franklin | $1,130 |
| 12 | Kenosha | $1,123 |
| 13 | Germantown | $1,100 |
| 14 | Middleton | $1,090 |
| 15 | Sun Prairie | $1,080 |
Nearby cities — studio rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 4 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Milwaukee.
| City | Distance | Studio rent | vs Milwaukee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wauwatosa, WI | 4.4 mi | $1,035 | +$119 (+13%) |
| Glendale, WI | 4.5 mi | $1,411 | +$495 (+54%) |
| Brown Deer, WI | 7.4 mi | $734 | $-182 (-20%) |
| Saint Francis, WI | 9.1 mi | $770 | $-146 (-16%) |
| Cudahy, WI | 10.6 mi | $850 | $-66 (-7%) |
| Brookfield, WI | 11.4 mi | $1,410 | +$494 (+54%) |
| South Milwaukee, WI | 12.8 mi | $900 | $-16 (-2%) |
| Menomonee Falls, WI | 12.8 mi | $1,140 | +$224 (+24%) |
| Franklin, WI | 13.2 mi | $1,130 | +$214 (+23%) |
| Oak Creek, WI | 13.7 mi | $1,200 | +$284 (+31%) |
| Germantown, WI | 15.6 mi | $1,100 | +$184 (+20%) |
| Grafton, WI | 18.5 mi | $930 | +$14 (+2%) |
Studio rent in Milwaukee — common questions
How much is a studio apartment in Milwaukee?
As of October 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is $916 per month. This is +37% below the citywide median of $1,443.
What income do you need to afford a studio in Milwaukee?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $36,640 ($3,053/month gross), which works out to roughly $17.62/hour at a full-time job.
Is Milwaukee expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?
Milwaukee's studio median of $916 is +29% below the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 20th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Milwaukee rank for studio rent in Wisconsin?
Among the 54 cities in Wisconsin with studio data, Milwaukee ranks #30 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper studio options near Milwaukee?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include Brown Deer ($734), Saint Francis ($770), Cudahy ($850).