Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Madison?

Madison, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Denver, CO's $1,750, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $49,000 in Madison.

Which has lower taxes, Denver or Madison?

Denver 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).

Denver vs Madison Cost of Living 2026

Denver

Colorado

$1,750/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 $1,750 in Denver, CO versus $1,410 in Madison, WI. Overall, Madison, WI is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,681 in Denver, CO and $76,983 in Madison, WI — about 16% higher in Denver, 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.

Denver, CO

Madison, WI

Rent

Studio

$1,497

$1,018

+32% in Denver, CO

1 Bedroom

$1,583

$1,219

+23% in Denver, CO

2 Bedroom

$1,958

$1,432

+27% in Denver, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,269

$1,766

+22% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$586,700

$346,900

+41% in Denver, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$91,681

$76,983

+16% in Denver, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$58,080

+7% in Denver, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

31.8 yr

+3.4 yr in Denver, CO

Homeownership

49.1%

46.6%

+2.5 pp in Denver, CO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.6%

59.2%

+3.6 pp in Madison, WI

Avg Commute

25.4 min

19.4 min

+6.0 min in Denver, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

999.3

259.5

+74% in Denver, CO

Property Crime

4,781.1

1,884.5

+61% in Denver, CO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

50.2°F

46.5°F

+3.7°F in Denver, CO

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

34.5 in

+18.9 in in Madison, WI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Denver, CO

Area: Denver vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

19.7

+22% in Madison, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.92

$11.79

+1% in Denver, CO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Denver, CO

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.66

+19% in Denver, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Madison, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Denver, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Madison, WI

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Denver, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / WI)

2.9%

+2.1 pp in WI

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

7.65%

+3.3 pp in WI

Denver vs Madison — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Madison?: Madison, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Denver, CO's $1,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Denver than in Madison?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $49,000 in Madison.
Which has lower taxes, Denver or Madison?: Denver 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).