Is it cheaper to live in Madison or Mesa?

Madison, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Mesa, AZ's $1,460, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $52,000 in Mesa.

Which has lower taxes, Madison or Mesa?

Madison is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Mesa under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Madison vs Mesa Cost of Living 2026

Madison

Wisconsin

$1,410/mo est.

Mesa

Arizona

$1,460/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,410 in Madison, WI versus $1,460 in Mesa, AZ. Overall, Madison, WI is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Mesa, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $76,983 in Madison, WI and $78,779 in Mesa, AZ — about 2% higher in Mesa, AZ. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Madison, WI

Mesa, AZ

Rent

Studio

$1,018

$1,209

+19% in Mesa, AZ

1 Bedroom

$1,219

$1,288

+6% in Mesa, AZ

2 Bedroom

$1,432

$1,458

+2% in Mesa, AZ

3 Bedroom

$1,766

$1,819

+3% in Mesa, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$346,900

$364,300

+5% in Mesa, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$76,983

$78,779

+2% in Mesa, AZ

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$58,080

$51,380

+12% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

31.8 yr

37.2 yr

+5.4 yr in Mesa, AZ

Homeownership

46.6%

64.4%

+17.8 pp in Mesa, AZ

Bachelor's+ (25+)

59.2%

31.5%

+27.7 pp in Madison, WI

Avg Commute

19.4 min

25.0 min

+5.6 min in Mesa, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

259.5

486.2

+87% in Mesa, AZ

Property Crime

1,884.5

1,488

+21% 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

46.5°F

75.1°F

+28.6°F in Mesa, AZ

Annual Precipitation

34.5 in

8.0 in

+26.4 in in Madison, WI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.09/gal

+29% in Mesa, AZ

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.7

15.2

+23% in Madison, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.79

$22.44

+90% in Mesa, AZ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Mesa, AZ

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Mesa, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Madison, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Mesa, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Madison, WI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Mesa, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / AZ)

5.6%

+0.6 pp in AZ

Income Tax (top rate)

7.65%

2.50%

+5.2 pp in WI

Madison vs Mesa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Madison or Mesa?: Madison, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Mesa, AZ's $1,460, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Madison than in Mesa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $52,000 in Mesa.
Which has lower taxes, Madison or Mesa?: Madison is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Mesa under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).