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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Wisconsin is a genuine bargain: 2 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. And on balance, madison leads at an index of 96 with rent at just $1,649/month — 13% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2…
Wisconsin is a genuine bargain: 2 of the 2 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. And on balance, madison leads at an index of 96 with rent at just $1,649/month — 13% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
Madison is one of the cheaper options here. Rent is $1,649/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 96. Income sits at $76,983. No major red flags in that number.
Quick aside: when housing takes less of your income, the secondary effects are real — less financial stress, more discretionary spending, better local businesses (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
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 96, rent $1,649/mo, income $76,983
2 of 2 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
280,305 residents · Wisconsin
What does daily life actually cost in Madison? Start with the 26% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. And for the typical household, on the category level, Housing (index 96) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 99) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $76,983 and homes at $415,530 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
561,385 residents · Wisconsin
Milwaukee earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. And in practical terms, the 82 cost index sits 29 points below the national baseline, and the $51,888 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $216,278 — $251,092 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 82, while Healthcare trails at 96.
Cities are ranked by overall cost of living index in descending order. High-cost cities are typically driven by housing prices — a city with an index of 150 has overall costs roughly 50% above the national median, with housing often 2-3× that premium. 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 96 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 96 and rent of $1,649/mo, while Milwaukee (ranked #2) has a cost index of 82 and rent of $1,398/mo — a 14-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.