Cost of Living
per year
per month
How West Allis's prices compare to the US city average across major spending categories.
How far does your salary go in West Allis?
Your $100,000 in West Allis has the same purchasing power as $104,221 in the average US city. You'd need $4,221 less here to maintain that standard of living.
Demographics and workforce data from the US Census ACS 5-Year.
bachelor's or higher
Climate, safety, and walkability indicators.
See a side-by-side breakdown of cost of living, housing, and salaries.
Popular comparisons
Sorted by affordability — most affordable first.
Within 10 points of West Allis's cost index of 96, sorted by closest match.
Wondering whether you should move to West Allis? It depends on what you're optimizing for, but the city has real arguments in its favor: the labor market runs tight and safer than the typical us city, plus 1 more things worth knowing. The data behind each is below.
The unemployment rate in West Allis sits at roughly 3.9%, which is a tight labor market by US standards. Salaries get nudged up faster, openings are easier to find, and switching jobs is less of a leap than it is in a softer market.
West Allis reports about 2,948 crime incidents per 100,000 residents — a step below the US average of around 3,500. The citywide number averages over neighborhoods that can vary a lot, but the headline number is friendlier than most American cities of comparable size.
The average one-way commute in West Allis is about 21 minutes — short by US standards (the national average is closer to 27). Over a year of working days, that's hundreds of hours that don't get spent in traffic, which is the kind of thing you notice in the weekend rather than the weekday.
Reasons are pulled from West Allis's actual data — Census ACS, BLS, BEA, NOAA, EPA AQS, FBI, and Walk Score. We don't list positives that aren't supported by the numbers, which is why different cities show different sections.
Yes — and a lot of it. With winter averages near 20°F, West Allis sees real accumulation most years. Salt for the steps, tires that handle ice, and a sense of humor about February are the usual costs of admission.
Cold enough to plan around. Winter in West Allis averages roughly 20°F, with stretches where daytime highs don't break freezing for weeks. Decent insulation, a real coat, and a car that starts in cold weather are non-negotiable.
Pleasantly warm. West Allis's summer averages around 80°F — comfortable for outdoor evenings, hot enough on peak days to warrant AC but mild compared to the Sun Belt.
West Allis falls in roughly USDA Zone 7. The zone classification is based on average annual minimum temperatures, so it's the right lookup for whether perennials and trees will overwinter here. Note that this is approximate from our winter-temperature data — check the USDA map for the exact zone before betting an expensive plant on it.
West Allis is at about 787 feet (240 m) above sea level. High enough to be solidly above any coastal concern, low enough that altitude isn't a factor.
Average for an American city. West Allis's reported crime rate of about 2,948 per 100,000 residents sits roughly in line with the US baseline of ~3,500. Like anywhere else, the citywide number masks real differences between neighborhoods — worth looking at specific areas before deciding.
Roughly average. West Allis's cost-of-living index is 96, putting it in the band where rent, groceries, and utilities track the national norm. Not a bargain, not a premium.
Somewhat. West Allis earns a Walk Score of 51/100 — many daily errands are doable on foot, especially in the denser neighborhoods, but a car still helps for longer trips. Transit Score is 41 out of 100.
Roughly $67,165 a year would match the lifestyle of someone earning $70,000 in an average US city. That's a starting point, not a target — negotiate higher when you can. Median rent in West Allis runs about $954/mo — keeping housing under 30% of gross income points to a similar floor on what you'd want to earn.