Living Cost Compare
Cleveland

Ohio

$940/mo est.

vs
Madison

Wisconsin

$1,410/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $1,410 in Madison, WI. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $76,983 in Madison, WI — about 49% higher in Madison, WI. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Cleveland, OH
Madison, WI

Rent

Studio
$678
$1,018
+50% in Madison, WI
1 Bedroom
$732
$1,219
+67% in Madison, WI
2 Bedroom
$903
$1,432
+59% in Madison, WI
3 Bedroom
$1,081
$1,766
+63% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$94,100
$346,900
+269% in Madison, WI

Income

Median Household Income
$39,187
$76,983
+96% in Madison, WI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,140
$58,080
+16% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.3 yr
31.8 yr
+4.5 yr in Cleveland, OH
Homeownership
41.2%
46.6%
+5.4 pp in Madison, WI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
21.3%
59.2%
+37.9 pp in Madison, WI
Avg Commute
22.9 min
19.4 min
+3.5 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,582
259.5
+84% in Cleveland, OH
Property Crime
4,531.3
1,884.5
+58% in Cleveland, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
46.5°F
+6.2°F in Cleveland, OH
Annual Precipitation
36.4 in
34.5 in
+1.9 in in Cleveland, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.18/gal
$3.94/gal
+6% in Cleveland, OH

Area: Ohio vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.5
19.7
+1% in Madison, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$11.79
+48% in Cleveland, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / WI)
5.75%
5%
+0.8 pp in OH
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
7.65%
+4.9 pp in WI

Cleveland vs Madison — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Madison?
Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Madison, WI's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Madison?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $49,000 in Madison.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Madison?
Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).