Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Madison?

Dover, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Madison, WI's $1,420, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $49,000 in Madison.

Which has lower taxes, Dover or Madison?

Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Madison under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax).

Dover vs Madison Cost of Living 2026

Dover

Delaware

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Dover, DE versus $1,420 in Madison, WI. Overall, Dover, DE is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $76,983 in Madison, WI — about 24% higher in Madison, WI. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Dover, DE

Madison, WI

Rent

Studio

$993

$1,018

+3% in Madison, WI

1 Bedroom

$1,047

$1,219

+16% in Madison, WI

2 Bedroom

$1,185

$1,432

+21% in Madison, WI

3 Bedroom

$1,634

$1,766

+8% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$248,500

$346,900

+40% in Madison, WI

Income

Median Household Income

$58,336

$76,983

+32% in Madison, WI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,690

$58,080

+24% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.1 yr

31.8 yr

+3.3 yr in Dover, DE

Homeownership

47.0%

46.6%

+0.4 pp in Dover, DE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

27.1%

59.2%

+32.1 pp in Madison, WI

Avg Commute

24.0 min

19.4 min

+4.6 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,025.3

259.5

+75% in Dover, DE

Property Crime

6,159.1

1,884.5

+69% in Dover, DE

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

56.9°F

46.5°F

+10.4°F in Dover, DE

Annual Precipitation

46.0 in

34.5 in

+11.6 in in Dover, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.85/gal

+2% in Dover, DE

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.3

19.6

+1% in Madison, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.73

$18.17

+39% in Dover, DE

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 Dover, DE

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 (DE / WI)

None

+5.0 pp in WI

Income Tax (top rate)

6.60%

7.65%

+1.1 pp in WI

Dover vs Madison — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Madison?: Dover, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Madison, WI's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Madison?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $49,000 in Madison.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Madison?: Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).