Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Madison?

Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Madison, WI's $1,410, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Boise than in Madison?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $49,000 in Madison.

Which has lower taxes, Boise or Madison?

Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Madison under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax).

Boise vs Madison Cost of Living 2026

Boise

Idaho

$1,260/mo est.

Madison

Wisconsin

$1,410/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,260 in Boise, ID versus $1,410 in Madison, WI. Overall, Boise, ID is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,308 in Boise, ID and $76,983 in Madison, WI — about 5% higher in Boise, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Boise, ID

Madison, WI

Rent

Studio

$1,021

$1,018

+0% in Boise, ID

1 Bedroom

$1,133

$1,219

+8% in Madison, WI

2 Bedroom

$1,342

$1,432

+7% in Madison, WI

3 Bedroom

$1,749

$1,766

+1% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$456,000

$346,900

+24% in Boise, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$81,308

$76,983

+5% in Boise, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,100

$58,080

+18% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.2 yr

31.8 yr

+6.4 yr in Boise, ID

Homeownership

63.0%

46.6%

+16.4 pp in Boise, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.6%

59.2%

+12.6 pp in Madison, WI

Avg Commute

19.1 min

19.4 min

+0.3 min in Madison, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

301

259.5

+14% in Boise, ID

Property Crime

1,135.1

1,884.5

+66% in Madison, WI

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.5°F

46.5°F

+6.0°F in Boise, ID

Annual Precipitation

11.7 in

34.5 in

+22.7 in in Madison, WI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Boise, ID

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

12.3

19.7

+60% in Madison, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.82

$11.79

+9% in Madison, WI

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Boise, ID

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.66

+19% in Boise, ID

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Madison, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Boise, ID

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Madison, WI

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Boise, ID

Average prices — West vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ID / WI)

+1.0 pp in ID

Income Tax (top rate)

5.30%

7.65%

+2.4 pp in WI

Boise vs Madison — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Madison?: Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Madison, WI's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boise than in Madison?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $49,000 in Madison.
Which has lower taxes, Boise or Madison?: Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Madison under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).