Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Madison?

Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Madison, WI's $1,420, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $49,000 in Madison.

Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Madison?

Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% 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).

Columbia vs Madison Cost of Living 2026

Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/mo est.

Madison

Wisconsin

$1,420/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,220 in Columbia, SC versus $1,420 in Madison, WI. Overall, Columbia, SC is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,653 in Columbia, SC and $76,983 in Madison, WI — about 28% higher in Madison, WI. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Columbia, SC

Madison, WI

Rent

Studio

$802

$1,018

+27% in Madison, WI

1 Bedroom

$1,026

$1,219

+19% in Madison, WI

2 Bedroom

$1,164

$1,432

+23% in Madison, WI

3 Bedroom

$1,338

$1,766

+32% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$243,500

$346,900

+42% in Madison, WI

Income

Median Household Income

$55,653

$76,983

+38% in Madison, WI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,430

$58,080

+25% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

31.8 yr

+3.1 yr in Madison, WI

Homeownership

47.3%

46.6%

+0.7 pp in Columbia, SC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.1%

59.2%

+13.1 pp in Madison, WI

Avg Commute

17.4 min

19.4 min

+2.0 min in Madison, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

769.9

259.5

+66% in Columbia, SC

Property Crime

3,265.1

1,884.5

+42% in Columbia, SC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

64.9°F

46.5°F

+18.4°F in Columbia, SC

Annual Precipitation

45.4 in

34.5 in

+10.9 in in Columbia, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.85/gal

+2% in Columbia, SC

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.6

19.6

+26% in Madison, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.07

$18.17

+37% in Columbia, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Madison, WI

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Columbia, SC

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Madison, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Madison, WI

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Madison, WI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / WI)

+1.0 pp in SC

Income Tax (top rate)

6.00%

7.65%

+1.7 pp in WI

Columbia vs Madison — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Madison?: Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Madison, WI's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in Madison?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $49,000 in Madison.
Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Madison?: Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% 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).