Living Cost Compare
Madison

Wisconsin

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,040/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 $1,040 in Milwaukee, WI. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $76,983 in Madison, WI and $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI — about 33% 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.

Madison, WI
Milwaukee, WI

Rent

Studio
$1,018
$841
+17% in Madison, WI
1 Bedroom
$1,219
$849
+30% in Madison, WI
2 Bedroom
$1,432
$1,031
+28% in Madison, WI
3 Bedroom
$1,766
$1,193
+32% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$346,900
$172,000
+50% in Madison, WI

Income

Median Household Income
$76,983
$51,888
+33% in Madison, WI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$58,080
$51,160
+12% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
32.2 yr
+0.4 yr in Milwaukee, WI
Homeownership
46.6%
41.5%
+5.1 pp in Madison, WI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
59.2%
26.6%
+32.6 pp in Madison, WI
Avg Commute
19.4 min
22.4 min
+3.0 min in Milwaukee, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
259.5
1,452.3
+460% in Milwaukee, WI
Property Crime
1,884.5
2,772.2
+47% in Milwaukee, 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
47.9°F
+1.4°F in Milwaukee, WI
Annual Precipitation
34.5 in
34.8 in
+0.3 in in Milwaukee, WI

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)
—
$2.25

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

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

Madison vs Milwaukee — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Madison or Milwaukee?
Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Madison, WI's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Madison than in Milwaukee?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.
Which has lower taxes, Madison or Milwaukee?
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).