Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Madison?

Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Madison, WI's $1,410, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $49,000 in Madison.

Which has lower taxes, Eugene or Madison?

Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); Madison under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax).

Eugene vs Madison Cost of Living 2026

Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/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 $1,260 in Eugene, OR versus $1,410 in Madison, WI. Overall, Eugene, OR is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,836 in Eugene, OR and $76,983 in Madison, WI — about 17% higher in Madison, WI. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Eugene, OR

Madison, WI

Rent

Studio

$1,011

$1,018

+1% in Madison, WI

1 Bedroom

$1,080

$1,219

+13% in Madison, WI

2 Bedroom

$1,411

$1,432

+1% in Madison, WI

3 Bedroom

$1,674

$1,766

+5% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$435,400

$346,900

+20% in Eugene, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$63,836

$76,983

+21% in Madison, WI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,680

$58,080

+17% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.4 yr

31.8 yr

+3.6 yr in Eugene, OR

Homeownership

47.6%

46.6%

+1.0 pp in Eugene, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.2%

59.2%

+15.0 pp in Madison, WI

Avg Commute

18.6 min

19.4 min

+0.8 min in Madison, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

319.6

259.5

+19% in Eugene, OR

Property Crime

3,348.9

1,884.5

+44% in Eugene, OR

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.5°F

46.5°F

+6.0°F in Eugene, OR

Annual Precipitation

46.1 in

34.5 in

+11.6 in in Eugene, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.94/gal

+23% in Eugene, OR

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.3

19.7

+21% in Madison, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.59

$11.79

+43% in Eugene, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Eugene, OR

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.66

+19% in Eugene, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Madison, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Eugene, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Madison, WI

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Eugene, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OR / WI)

None

+5.0 pp in WI

Income Tax (top rate)

9.90%

7.65%

+2.3 pp in OR

Eugene vs Madison — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Madison?: Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Madison, WI's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Eugene than in Madison?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $49,000 in Madison.
Which has lower taxes, Eugene or Madison?: Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% 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).