How much does it cost to commute in Milwaukee?
In the Milwaukee metro area, households spend about 44.0% of income on the combined cost of housing and transportation, with transportation alone accounting for roughly 18.0% of income — about $13,479 per year for a typical household. (Source: CNT Housing + Transportation Affordability Index, area-median-income household.)
Driving downtown means paying about $11.99 a day to park (median of 40 sampled garages). On a simple daily round-trip basis from the data here, the lowest-cost option is driving and parking at about $11.99 per day.
Cost by mode in Milwaukee
Daily round-trip cost, lowest first. All figures.
| Mode | Daily round trip | How it's priced |
|---|---|---|
| Drive (park + toll)Cheapest | $11.99 | downtown parking $11.99/day |
Downtown parking
Housing + Transportation affordability
The widely cited affordability benchmark is 45% for housing + transportation combined. Source: CNT H+T Index (AMI household). Typical household drives 15,475 miles/yr.
The numbers above are metro-wide medians. Enter your real origin and destination to compare drive, transit, park-and-ride, bike, and Uber by actual dollars — gas, tolls, parking, and fares included.
Frequently asked questions
How much is daily parking in downtown Milwaukee?
Downtown Milwaukee parking costs about $11.99 per day, or $146.77 per month for a reserved spot, based on 40 sampled garages.
What share of income goes to housing and transportation in Milwaukee?
In the Milwaukee metro, a typical household spends about 44.0% of income on housing and transportation combined, with 18.0% on transportation alone — roughly $13,479 per year. The widely cited affordability benchmark is 45% for H+T combined.