Cost of Living · Wisconsin
Madison Cost of Living
Madison, Wisconsin costs approximately 1.0% below the US national average. Compare with 49 other major US cities.
0.99×
cost-of-living index (1.00 = US national average)
Madison ranks 1 of 2 cities in Wisconsin by cost of living.
Cities MORE expensive than Madison (51)
San Francisco, CA
+46.5% more expensive
Oakland, CA
+36.4% more expensive
New York City, NY
+33.3% more expensive
Honolulu, HI
+31.3% more expensive
Irvine, CA
+31.3% more expensive
Los Angeles, CA
+23.2% more expensive
Boston, MA
+23.2% more expensive
San Diego, CA
+22.2% more expensive
Yonkers, NY
+21.2% more expensive
Anchorage, AK
+21.2% more expensive
Seattle, WA
+19.2% more expensive
Long Beach, CA
+19.2% more expensive
Anaheim, CA
+19.2% more expensive
Scottsdale, AZ
+19.2% more expensive
Chula Vista, CA
+16.2% more expensive
Miami, FL
+13.1% more expensive
Portland, OR
+11.1% more expensive
Newark, NJ
+11.1% more expensive
Sacramento, CA
+11.1% more expensive
Riverside, CA
+11.1% more expensive
Denver, CO
+9.1% more expensive
Chicago, IL
+6.1% more expensive
Austin, TX
+6.1% more expensive
Baltimore, MD
+6.1% more expensive
Stockton, CA
+6.1% more expensive
Aurora, CO
+6.1% more expensive
Hialeah, FL
+6.1% more expensive
Frisco, TX
+6.1% more expensive
Las Vegas, NV
+5.1% more expensive
Minneapolis, MN
+5.1% more expensive
Plano, TX
+5.1% more expensive
Chandler, AZ
+5.1% more expensive
Phoenix, AZ
+3.0% more expensive
Philadelphia, PA
+3.0% more expensive
Atlanta, GA
+3.0% more expensive
Tampa, FL
+3.0% more expensive
Henderson, NV
+3.0% more expensive
Reno, NV
+3.0% more expensive
Gilbert, AZ
+3.0% more expensive
Charleston, SC
+3.0% more expensive
Salt Lake City, UT
+3.0% more expensive
Orlando, FL
+2.0% more expensive
Wilmington, DE
+1.0% more expensive
Raleigh, NC
+1.0% more expensive
Virginia Beach, VA
+1.0% more expensive
St. Paul, MN
+1.0% more expensive
Chesapeake, VA
+1.0% more expensive
North Las Vegas, NV
+1.0% more expensive
Boise, ID
+1.0% more expensive
Fresno, CA
+1.0% more expensive
Worcester, MA
+1.0% more expensive
Cities CHEAPER than Madison (43)
Norfolk, VA
−1.0% cheaper
Jacksonville, FL
−2.0% cheaper
Charlotte, NC
−2.0% cheaper
Mesa, AZ
−2.0% cheaper
Houston, TX
−3.0% cheaper
Fort Worth, TX
−3.0% cheaper
Tucson, AZ
−3.0% cheaper
Glendale, AZ
−3.0% cheaper
Garland, TX
−3.0% cheaper
Spokane, WA
−3.0% cheaper
Pittsburgh, PA
−4.0% cheaper
Arlington, TX
−4.0% cheaper
Tallahassee, FL
−4.0% cheaper
Milwaukee, WI
−5.1% cheaper
Albuquerque, NM
−5.1% cheaper
New Orleans, LA
−5.1% cheaper
San Antonio, TX
−6.1% cheaper
Grand Rapids, MI
−6.1% cheaper
Columbus, OH
−7.1% cheaper
Detroit, MI
−7.1% cheaper
Cincinnati, OH
−7.1% cheaper
Kansas City, MO
−7.1% cheaper
Lexington, KY
−7.1% cheaper
Corpus Christi, TX
−7.1% cheaper
Buffalo, NY
−7.1% cheaper
Greensboro, NC
−7.1% cheaper
Knoxville, TN
−7.1% cheaper
El Paso, TX
−8.1% cheaper
Cleveland, OH
−8.1% cheaper
St. Louis, MO
−8.1% cheaper
Winston-Salem, NC
−8.1% cheaper
Indianapolis, IN
−9.1% cheaper
Louisville, KY
−9.1% cheaper
Omaha, NE
−9.1% cheaper
Memphis, TN
−10.1% cheaper
Oklahoma City, OK
−10.1% cheaper
Lincoln, NE
−10.1% cheaper
Birmingham, AL
−11.1% cheaper
Toledo, OH
−11.1% cheaper
Lubbock, TX
−11.1% cheaper
Wichita, KS
−13.1% cheaper
Fort Wayne, IN
−13.1% cheaper
Mobile, AL
−13.1% cheaper
Madison cost of living, in context
With a cost-of-living index of 0.99× the US national average, Madison sits below the typical American cost baseline. 51 of the 49 other major US cities we track cost more, while 43 cost less.
What drives the index: housing dominates (typically 30-40% of household budget), followed by transportation (~15%), food (~10%), healthcare (~10%), and utilities/services. Madison's near-average pricing means most categories track national norms.
Salary in Madison
Salaries in Madison typically scale with the cost-of-living index. A professional earning $X in a national-average metro would expect approximately $99K for the same role in Madison. See our salary by job in Madison pages for specific role estimates across 50 jobs.
Related tools
Madison Paycheck Calculator — exact take-home with city/state taxes. Madison salary by job — 50 jobs. Inflation Calculator — purchasing power over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the cost of living index for Madison?▾
Madison's cost-of-living index is 0.99× US average — meaning living costs are approximately 1.0% below the national average. Major drivers: housing, taxes, transportation. Index based on BEA Regional Price Parities.
Is Madison expensive to live in?▾
Madison sits near the US average for cost of living. Some neighborhoods are pricey (urban cores), others affordable.
What salary do I need to live in Madison?▾
Living comfortably in Madison typically requires income matching the local cost-of-living multiplier × what you'd need elsewhere. For a "moderate" lifestyle: household income of $45K+ is often suggested. Use our salary by city pages for job-specific estimates.
How does Madison compare within Wisconsin?▾
Madison ranks 1 of 2 cities we track in Wisconsin by cost of living. Within-state variation can be significant — major metros typically cost more than smaller cities or rural areas.
Where does this index come from?▾
BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — published annually by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. Reflects cost differences for the same basket of goods/services across metros. Useful baseline; specific items (housing, dining out) can vary much more than the overall index suggests.