Living Cost Compare
Madison

Wisconsin

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Naperville

Illinois

$1,830/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 $1,830 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Madison, WI is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $76,983 in Madison, WI and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 49% higher in Naperville, IL. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Madison, WI
Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio
$1,018
$1,713
+68% in Naperville, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,219
$1,594
+31% in Naperville, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,432
$1,889
+32% in Naperville, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,766
$2,446
+39% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$346,900
$509,900
+47% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$76,983
$150,937
+96% in Naperville, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$58,080
$54,720
+6% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
40.1 yr
+8.3 yr in Naperville, IL
Homeownership
46.6%
74.3%
+27.7 pp in Naperville, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
59.2%
71.7%
+12.5 pp in Naperville, IL
Avg Commute
19.4 min
31.4 min
+12.0 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
259.5
85.7
+67% in Madison, WI
Property Crime
1,884.5
892.2
+53% 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
49.9°F
+3.4°F in Naperville, IL
Annual Precipitation
34.5 in
36.9 in
+2.4 in in Naperville, IL

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.7
23.9
+21% in Naperville, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.79
$15.39
+31% in Naperville, IL

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 / IL)
5%
6.25%
+1.3 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
7.65%
4.95%
+2.7 pp in WI

Madison vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Madison or Naperville?
Madison, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Madison than in Naperville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Madison or Naperville?
Madison is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).