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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Dollar for dollar, few states match Wisconsin's value. 2 out of 2 cities undercut the national cost index of 112. Leading the pack: Madison at index 105, where median rent of $1,649/month saves renters $2,952/year versus the national median (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
Dollar for dollar, few states match Wisconsin's value. 2 out of 2 cities undercut the national cost index of 112. Leading the pack: Madison at index 105, where median rent of $1,649/month saves renters $2,952/year versus the national median (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
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.
The ranking uses a composite of 2026 data from Census Bureau population/income surveys, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary benchmarks, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Madison (index 105, rent $1,649); Milwaukee (index 92, rent $1,398). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
The counter-argument is worth hearing: Here's the state-level backdrop: Wisconsin averages a 99 cost index, $1,524/mo rent, and $64,436 income across 2 cities. And more often than not, that's $371 less than the national rent average. Dairy state stability with surprisingly low costs — and that context shapes every city in this ranking.
If you're ready to act on this, three things to do next: 1) Click into the city pages for the top 3 and check rent trends — direction matters more than the snapshot. That alone makes it worth considering. 2) Run your income through the salary calculator for a personalized cost comparison. 3) Compare your top two picks head-to-head on our comparison page. The data is here; the decision is yours.
#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
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.
561,385 residents · Wisconsin
The numbers for Milwaukee are straightforward: 92 on the cost index, $1,398/month — whether that matters depends on your situation — rent, $51,888 income. Not the most exciting entry in the list, but solid. That tracks.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Madison | 7.65% | 5.44% | 1.51% | $53,215 |
2Milwaukee | 7.65% | 5.44% | 1.51% | $53,215 |
Cities are ranked by median household income from Census ACS data. We also show cost-adjusted purchasing power (income ÷ cost index) to reveal which high-income cities actually deliver the most real-world spending power. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
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.