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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The numbers are clear: 2 of 2 cities in Wisconsin beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 112. Madison stands out at 105 on the index, with rent of $1,649/month — we had to double-check this one — and household income of $76,983. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data (and that gap …
The numbers are clear: 2 of 2 cities in Wisconsin beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 112. Madison stands out at 105 on the index, with rent of $1,649/month — we had to double-check this one — and household income of $76,983. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
A closer look at Madison: the cost index of 105 breaks down to a Utilities index of 97 (strongest category) and a Housing index of 113 (weakest). Median rent is $1,649/month — 13% below the national median — while household income sits at $76,983, meaning locals spend about 26% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
Bottom line: Madison leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
#1 Ranked: Madison — cost index 105, rent $1,649/mo, income $76,983
2 of 2 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
280,305 residents · Wisconsin
The #1 spot goes to Madison, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,649/month — saving renters $2,952 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 97, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 113. A 26% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
561,385 residents · Wisconsin
A closer look at Milwaukee: the cost index of 92 breaks down to a Housing index of 81 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 95 (weakest). Median rent is $1,398/month — 26% below the national median — while household income sits at $51,888, meaning locals spend about 32% of income on rent. That exceeds the recommended 30% threshold — affordability here depends on earning above the median.
Madison ranks #1 in Wisconsin for this analysis with a cost index of 105 and median income of $76,983.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Madison (ranked #1) has a cost index of 105 and rent of $1,649/mo, while Milwaukee (ranked #2) has a cost index of 92 and rent of $1,398/mo — a 13-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Madison is $1,649/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $246 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Madison is $415,530, which is 5.4× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. The national median home price is $467,370.
Wisconsin has a 7.65% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 5.44%, and the effective property tax rate is 1.51%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.