Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,410 in Madison, WI versus $1,370 in Minneapolis, MN. Overall, Minneapolis, MN is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $76,983 in Madison, WI and $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN — about 4% higher in Minneapolis, MN. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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 Minnesota.
Public Transit
Adult base one-way fare — — vs Metro Transit (2026).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — Midwest vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Madison vs Minneapolis — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Madison or Minneapolis?
- Minneapolis, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Madison, WI's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Madison than in Minneapolis?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $48,000 in Minneapolis.
- Which has lower taxes, Madison or Minneapolis?
- Madison is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Minneapolis under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).