Living Cost Compare
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,150/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 $1,150 in Indianapolis, IN versus $1,410 in Madison, WI. Overall, Indianapolis, IN is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN and $76,983 in Madison, WI — about 18% higher in Madison, WI. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Indianapolis, IN
Madison, WI

Rent

Studio
$933
$1,018
+9% in Madison, WI
1 Bedroom
$963
$1,219
+27% in Madison, WI
2 Bedroom
$1,132
$1,432
+27% in Madison, WI
3 Bedroom
$1,304
$1,766
+35% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$207,000
$346,900
+68% in Madison, WI

Income

Median Household Income
$62,995
$76,983
+22% in Madison, WI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,340
$58,080
+18% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
31.8 yr
+2.3 yr in Indianapolis, IN
Homeownership
55.3%
46.6%
+8.7 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.2%
59.2%
+25.0 pp in Madison, WI
Avg Commute
24.3 min
19.4 min
+4.9 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
936.6
259.5
+72% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
3,351.7
1,884.5
+44% in Indianapolis, IN

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
53.2°F
46.5°F
+6.7°F in Indianapolis, IN
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
34.5 in
+8.0 in in Indianapolis, IN

Gas

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

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

Adult base one-way fare — IndyGo vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.1
19.7
+9% in Madison, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$11.79
+14% in Indianapolis, IN

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 (IN / WI)
7%
5%
+2.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
7.65%
+4.7 pp in WI

Indianapolis vs Madison — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Indianapolis or Madison?
Indianapolis, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,150 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Madison, WI's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Indianapolis than in Madison?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Indianapolis versus $49,000 in Madison.
Which has lower taxes, Indianapolis or Madison?
Indianapolis is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).