What is the cost of living in Madison, WI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Madison has an overall cost of living index of 110, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Wisconsin, Madison has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Wisconsin's index of 98.
The standard of living in Madison ranks as #114 most affordable out of the 146 places we measured in Wisconsin. By definition, that implies Madison ranks as the #32 most expensive place in the Badger State.
For more reading on life in Madison, check out:
Madison Cost Of Living Vs. Wisconsin
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Madison. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Madison is 97.
The Groceries index in Madison is 95.
The Health index in Madison is 138.
The Housing index in Madison is 97.
The Transportation index in Madison is 106.
The Utilities index in Madison is 100.
| Living Expense | Madison | Wisconsin | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 110 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 138 | 91 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 106 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Madison Cost Of Living Compared To Wisconsin Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Wisconsin, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Madison Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Madison, WI Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Wisconsin, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Madison is $423,766.
The Median Rent in Madison is $1,413.
The Median Income in Madison is $78,050.
The Home Value To Income in Madison is 5.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Madison is 0.22x.
Madison, WI Costs By Category
Detailed Madison Services costs vs. Wisconsin
Detailed Madison Groceries costs vs. Wisconsin
Detailed Madison Health costs vs. Wisconsin
Detailed Madison Transportation costs vs. Wisconsin
Madison SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Madison
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Madison. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Sun Prairie, WI has a cost of living index of 111, 1.0x Madison.
Fitchburg, WI has a cost of living index of 117, 1.1x Madison.
Middleton, WI has a cost of living index of 120, 1.1x Madison.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Prairie, WI | 37,570 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Fitchburg, WI | 32,619 | 117 | 1.1x |
| Middleton, WI | 22,301 | 120 | 1.1x |
| Waunakee, WI | 15,687 | 121 | 1.1x |
| Verona, WI | 15,232 | 115 | 1.0x |
| Stoughton, WI | 13,033 | 103 | 0.9x |
| Oregon, WI | 11,547 | 111 | 1.0x |
| DeForest, WI | 11,501 | 107 | 1.0x |
| McFarland, WI | 9,160 | 109 | 1.0x |
| Monona, WI | 8,527 | 112 | 1.0x |
