Living Cost Compare
Green Bay

Wisconsin

$920/mo est.

vs
Madison

Wisconsin

$1,410/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $920 in Green Bay, WI versus $1,410 in Madison, WI. Overall, Green Bay, WI is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,546 in Green Bay, WI and $76,983 in Madison, WI — about 19% higher in Madison, WI. Both cities are in Wisconsin, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Green Bay, WI
Madison, WI

Rent

Studio
$707
$1,018
+44% in Madison, WI
1 Bedroom
$730
$1,219
+67% in Madison, WI
2 Bedroom
$956
$1,432
+50% in Madison, WI
3 Bedroom
$1,287
$1,766
+37% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$191,500
$346,900
+81% in Madison, WI

Income

Median Household Income
$62,546
$76,983
+23% in Madison, WI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,940
$58,080
+16% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
31.8 yr
+3.9 yr in Green Bay, WI
Homeownership
55.9%
46.6%
+9.3 pp in Green Bay, WI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.5%
59.2%
+33.7 pp in Madison, WI
Avg Commute
18.9 min
19.4 min
+0.5 min in Madison, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
501.7
259.5
+48% in Green Bay, WI
Property Crime
1,331.2
1,884.5
+42% in Madison, WI

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
44.3°F
46.5°F
+2.2°F in Madison, WI
Annual Precipitation
29.5 in
34.5 in
+5.0 in in Madison, WI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.7
19.7
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.79
$11.79
about equal

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / WI)
5%
5%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
7.65%
7.65%
about equal

Green Bay vs Madison — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Green Bay or Madison?
Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Madison, WI's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Green Bay than in Madison?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Green Bay versus $49,000 in Madison.
Which has lower taxes, Green Bay or Madison?
Neither — both are in Wisconsin, so they share the same state tax rates: 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).