Living Cost Compare
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/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 $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,410 in Madison, WI. Overall, Madison, WI is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO and $76,983 in Madison, WI — about 7% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Colorado Springs, CO
Madison, WI

Rent

Studio
$998
$1,018
+2% in Madison, WI
1 Bedroom
$1,305
$1,219
+7% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,504
$1,432
+5% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,881
$1,766
+6% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,700
$346,900
+18% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$83,198
$76,983
+7% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,710
$58,080
+10% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
31.8 yr
+3.8 yr in Colorado Springs, CO
Homeownership
61.3%
46.6%
+14.7 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.9%
59.2%
+17.3 pp in Madison, WI
Avg Commute
22.8 min
19.4 min
+3.4 min in Colorado Springs, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
722.1
259.5
+64% in Colorado Springs, CO
Property Crime
3,488.7
1,884.5
+46% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
49.0°F
46.5°F
+2.5°F in Colorado Springs, CO
Annual Precipitation
16.5 in
34.5 in
+17.9 in in Madison, WI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.25/gal
$3.94/gal
+7% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: Colorado vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

Adult base one-way fare — Mountain Metro vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
19.7
+22% in Madison, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.92
$11.79
+1% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.66
+19% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Madison, WI
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Madison, WI
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / WI)
2.9%
5%
+2.1 pp in WI
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
7.65%
+3.3 pp in WI

Colorado Springs vs Madison — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Madison?
Madison, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs than in Madison?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $49,000 in Madison.
Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or Madison?
Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).