Cost of living in Madison, WI

Everyday prices in Madison run 2.7% below the US average. The typical home lists for $469,465, about $2,580 a month on a mortgage. A 2-bedroom rents for $1,647 a month.

By Sol Lakein, founder of Slower Sundays. Updated November 2026.

3% cheaperEveryday prices¹Than the US average
$469,465Typical home^2,3$2,580/mo mortgage
$1,6472-bedroom rent⁴A month, utilities in
23 minAverage commute⁷Each way

Rent in Madison

Median rent by size, utilities included, next to the US. Full rent breakdown⁴

Studio$1,358/mo
Madison
$1,358
US
$1,365
Income to keep it at 30%: $54,320⁵
1 bedroom$1,409/mo
Madison
$1,409
US
$1,362
Income to keep it at 30%: $56,360⁵
2 bedrooms$1,647/mo
Madison
$1,647
US
$1,563
Income to keep it at 30%: $65,880⁵
3 bedrooms$1,753/mo
Madison
$1,753
US
$1,760
Income to keep it at 30%: $70,120⁵
4 bedrooms$1,836/mo
Madison
$1,836
US
$2,153
Income to keep it at 30%: $73,440⁵

What it takes to live in Madison

Matches $100,000 at US prices¹$97,287
Typical household income⁶$91,138US: $84,780
Housing costs¹About the US averageThan the US average
Wisconsin income tax⁸Up to 7.65%Compare states

Compare Madison with any other city

Places that cost less than Madison

The same typical home costs less each month in 49 of the cities we cover. The biggest and smallest gaps:^2,3

All 54 cities, cheapest first

Madison cost of living: questions people ask

What is the cost of living in Madison, WI?

Everyday prices in Madison run 2.7% below the US average. The typical home lists for $469,465, about $2,580 a month on a mortgage. A 2-bedroom rents for $1,647 a month.

How much is rent in Madison?

The median rent, utilities included, is $1,409 a month for a 1-bedroom and $1,647 for a 2-bedroom (Census ACS, 2025). Keeping a 2-bedroom at 30% of income takes about $65,880 a year.

What salary in Madison matches $100,000 elsewhere in the US?

About $97,287 buys what $100,000 buys at US-average prices, using BEA regional price parities for 2024.

What is the typical household income in Madison?

$91,138 a year, against $84,780 for the US (Census ACS, 2025).

Where can I live for less than Madison?

Of the cities we cover, Muncie, IN ($1,582 a month less on the typical home), Terre Haute, IN ($1,538 a month less on the typical home), Paducah, KY ($1,237 a month less on the typical home).

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Notes on the numbers

1Everyday prices and housing costs: BEA regional price parities, 2024, where the US average is 100.
2Typical home: the median listing price, Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026.
3Mortgage: Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA. Rate source
4Rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, table B25031, median gross rent by number of bedrooms (rent plus utilities the renter pays), 2025. $3,500+ is the highest figure the Census publishes. Census table
5Income to keep rent at 30%: a year of rent divided by 0.3, the common rule of thumb. Our arithmetic.
6Household income: Census ACS 2025 1-year, table B19013, median household income, 2025. Census table
7Commute: Census ACS 2025 1-year, table S0801, mean travel time to work (one way, workers who do not work from home), 2025. Census table
8Income tax: Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026 (Feb 17, 2026), 2026. Top rate for married couples filing jointly. Tax source

Sources for this page