What’s the average rent in Milwaukee, WI?

Each year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates something called Fair Market Rent (FMR) for every region in the country, including Milwaukee County. These numbers represent the estimated cost of rent plus basic utilities (like water, heat, and gas) for standard-quality rental housing. 

Fair Market Rent is not the maximum or average price exactly. It’s meant to reflect the 40th percentile of rents in the area, meaning 40% of units in Milwaukee should rent at or below this amount.

Unit Style	FY 2025 FMR
Efficiency	$939
One Bedroom	$1,056
Two Bedroom	$1,257
Three Bedroom	$1,558
Four Bedroom	$1,701

If you're looking for a 1-bedroom in Milwaukee County, HUD estimates you’ll need around $1,111 per month to cover both rent and utilities.

Milwaukee Rent Trends: What’s Changing?

Rent prices in Milwaukee have risen steadily every year since 2021, with some of the largest increases occurring between 2022 and 2025.

Efficiency units saw a 42% increase over five years, rising from $663 in 2021 to $939 in 2025.
One-bedroom rents climbed from $803 to $1,056—a 31% increase.
Two-bedroom units, a common choice for roommates and small families, rose about 29%, now averaging $1,257.
Larger units like three- and four-bedrooms increased by over $300/month since 2021, reflecting a growing demand for family-sized rentals.

In short: Milwaukee rents have gone up every year since 2021, and renters are paying significantly more across all unit types—especially for efficiencies and smaller apartments. Here’s a five year picture of how fair market rents have evolved in Milwaukee County:

How Much Do You Need To Earn To Afford Rent in Milwaukee?

The 30% rule is a common guideline used by housing experts, landlords, and public housing programs. It suggests that you should spend no more than 30% of your gross monthly income (your income before taxes) on rent. 

Going over that limit can make it harder to cover other essentials like food, transportation, healthcare, or savings. While it’s not a strict rule, many landlords use it when reviewing rental applications.

So what does that mean in practical terms?

If you're looking at a one-bedroom apartment in Milwaukee, which currently averages just over $1,050 per month, you’d want to earn at least $3,500 a month, or roughly $42,000 a year, to stay within that 30% threshold. For two-bedroom units, that target income would need to be closer to $50,000 a year.

Larger units—three or four bedrooms—require even more. Rent for these units has climbed significantly in recent years, meaning many families need to earn $60,000 to $70,000+ annually to comfortably afford market-rate options.

If your income falls below these thresholds, you may want to:

Look for income-restricted or subsidized housing (we list these on our platform).
Explore shared housing or roommates.
Use our affordability calculator to see which types of hosuing fit your income range.

Affordable Housing and Rent Support in Milwaukee

Affordable housing generally refers to rental units priced so that tenants spend no more than 30% of their gross income on housing costs (including utilities). These units may be available through: 

Income-restricted properties (which limit eligibility based on your income)
Government-supported programs like the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8 vouchers - which Milwaukee landlords are required to take)

Many affordable housing units are reserved for renters earning less than a certain percentage of the Area Median Income (AMI).

AMI stands for Area Median Income, which is the midpoint income for a region, meaning half of households earn more, and half earn less. Affordable housing programs often use AMI to determine eligibility. 

For example: 

If a program serves households making 60% of AMI, it means you must earn 60% or less of Milwaukee County’s median income to qualify.

You can learn more about how AMI impacts eligibility - and see where you fall - by using our Milwaukee Affordable Housing Eligibility tool.