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Rent Tracker
The average asking rent in Milwaukee, WI is $1,504/month as of 2026-03. That is +3.7% compared to a year ago.
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) · zillow.com/research
Current Avg Rent
$1,504/mo
as of 2026-03
Year-over-Year Change
+3.7%
Monthly ZORI index values for Milwaukee, WI.
| Month | Avg Asking Rent | Change from Prior Month |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-03 | $1,504 | +0.67% |
| 2026-02 | $1,494 | +0.20% |
| 2026-01 | $1,491 | +0.27% |
| 2025-12 | $1,487 | -0.07% |
| 2025-11 | $1,488 | +0.68% |
| 2025-10 | $1,478 | +0.27% |
| 2025-09 | $1,474 | +0.20% |
| 2025-08 | $1,471 | +0.07% |
| 2025-07 | $1,470 | +0.00% |
| 2025-06 | $1,470 | +0.41% |
| 2025-05 | $1,464 | +0.34% |
| 2025-04 | $1,459 | +0.55% |
| 2025-03 | $1,451 | +0.62% |
| 2025-02 | $1,442 | +0.63% |
| 2025-01 | $1,433 | +0.56% |
| 2024-12 | $1,425 | +0.35% |
| 2024-11 | $1,420 | +0.21% |
| 2024-10 | $1,417 | -0.07% |
| 2024-09 | $1,418 | -0.21% |
| 2024-08 | $1,421 | +0.42% |
| 2024-07 | $1,415 | +0.21% |
| 2024-06 | $1,412 | +0.64% |
| 2024-05 | $1,403 | +0.79% |
| 2024-04 | $1,392 | — |
Shelter is the single largest component of the official CPI, accounting for roughly one-third of the index. But the BLS shelter index tends to lag real-market rent changes by 12–18 months because it measures rents paid by all tenants — including long-term renters locked into old leases. ZORI measures asking rents for new leases, making it a timelier signal of where CPI shelter inflation is headed.
When ZORI is rising sharply in your city, it is a leading indicator that official shelter inflation — and therefore overall CPI — will remain elevated in coming months.
Data: Zillow Research ZORI · Updated monthly · Price Inflation Report