Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,060 in Louisville, KY versus $1,410 in Madison, WI. Overall, Louisville, KY is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $64,731 in Louisville, KY and $76,983 in Madison, WI — about 16% higher in Madison, WI. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).
Public Transit
Adult base one-way fare — TARC vs — (2026).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — South vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Louisville vs Madison — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Louisville or Madison?
- Louisville, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,060 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Madison, WI's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Louisville than in Madison?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Louisville versus $49,000 in Madison.
- Which has lower taxes, Louisville or Madison?
- Louisville is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% 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).