Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or Madison?

Fayetteville, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Madison, WI's $1,420, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Fayetteville versus $49,000 in Madison.

Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or Madison?

Fayetteville is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Madison under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax).

Fayetteville vs Madison Cost of Living 2026

Fayetteville

Arkansas

$990/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 $990 in Fayetteville, AR versus $1,420 in Madison, WI. Overall, Fayetteville, AR is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,074 in Fayetteville, AR and $76,983 in Madison, WI — about 23% higher in Madison, WI. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Fayetteville, AR

Madison, WI

Rent

Studio

$709

$1,018

+44% in Madison, WI

1 Bedroom

$817

$1,219

+49% in Madison, WI

2 Bedroom

$999

$1,432

+43% in Madison, WI

3 Bedroom

$1,430

$1,766

+23% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$322,500

$346,900

+8% in Madison, WI

Income

Median Household Income

$59,074

$76,983

+30% in Madison, WI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,610

$58,080

+25% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

31.8 yr

+3.1 yr in Madison, WI

Homeownership

41.9%

46.6%

+4.7 pp in Madison, WI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

49.8%

59.2%

+9.4 pp in Madison, WI

Avg Commute

18.2 min

19.4 min

+1.2 min in Madison, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

429.4

259.5

+40% in Fayetteville, AR

Property Crime

2,392.2

1,884.5

+21% in Fayetteville, AR

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

57.1°F

46.5°F

+10.6°F in Fayetteville, AR

Annual Precipitation

48.5 in

34.5 in

+14.0 in in Fayetteville, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.85/gal

+6% in Madison, WI

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

19.6

+39% in Madison, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$18.17

+35% in Fayetteville, AR

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 Fayetteville, AR

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 (AR / WI)

6.5%

+1.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

7.65%

+3.8 pp in WI

Fayetteville vs Madison — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or Madison?: Fayetteville, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Madison, WI's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fayetteville than in Madison?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Fayetteville versus $49,000 in Madison.
Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or Madison?: Fayetteville is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% 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).