Is it cheaper to live in Hartford or Madison?

Hartford, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Madison, WI's $1,420, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Hartford or Madison?

Hartford is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Madison under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax).

Hartford vs Madison Cost of Living 2026

Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Hartford, CT versus $1,420 in Madison, WI. Overall, Hartford, CT is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $45,300 in Hartford, CT and $76,983 in Madison, WI — about 41% higher in Madison, WI. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Hartford, CT

Madison, WI

Rent

Studio

$973

$1,018

+5% in Madison, WI

1 Bedroom

$1,042

$1,219

+17% in Madison, WI

2 Bedroom

$1,296

$1,432

+10% in Madison, WI

3 Bedroom

$1,433

$1,766

+23% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$217,200

$346,900

+60% in Madison, WI

Income

Median Household Income

$45,300

$76,983

+70% in Madison, WI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$59,940

$58,080

+3% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

31.8 yr

+1.6 yr in Hartford, CT

Homeownership

25.7%

46.6%

+20.9 pp in Madison, WI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

18.3%

59.2%

+40.9 pp in Madison, WI

Avg Commute

22.8 min

19.4 min

+3.4 min in Hartford, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

527.5

259.5

+51% in Hartford, CT

Property Crime

2,949.2

1,884.5

+36% in Hartford, CT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

51.2°F

46.5°F

+4.7°F in Hartford, CT

Annual Precipitation

43.6 in

34.5 in

+9.1 in in Hartford, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.85/gal

+2% in Hartford, CT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.3

19.6

+20% in Hartford, CT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$23.33

$18.17

+22% in Hartford, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Hartford, CT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Madison, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Hartford, CT

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Hartford, CT

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Hartford, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / WI)

6.35%

+1.3 pp in CT

Income Tax (top rate)

6.99%

7.65%

+0.7 pp in WI

Hartford vs Madison — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hartford or Madison?: Hartford, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Madison, WI's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hartford than in Madison?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Hartford versus $49,000 in Madison.
Which has lower taxes, Hartford or Madison?: Hartford is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).