Living Cost Compare
Madison

Wisconsin

$1,420/mo est.

vs
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,420 in Madison, WI versus $1,620 in Newark, DE. Overall, Madison, WI is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $76,983 in Madison, WI and $71,373 in Newark, DE — about 7% higher in Madison, WI. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Madison, WI
Newark, DE

Rent

Studio
$1,018
$1,649
+62% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,219
$1,391
+14% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,432
$1,513
+6% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,766
$1,916
+8% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$346,900
$357,600
+3% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$76,983
$71,373
+7% in Madison, WI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$58,080
$54,310
+6% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
22.0 yr
+9.8 yr in Madison, WI
Homeownership
46.6%
50.3%
+3.7 pp in Newark, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
59.2%
57.5%
+1.7 pp in Madison, WI
Avg Commute
19.4 min
19.6 min
+0.2 min in Newark, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
259.5
326.3
+26% in Newark, DE
Property Crime
1,884.5
2,024.6
+7% in Newark, DE

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
54.9°F
+8.4°F in Newark, DE
Annual Precipitation
34.5 in
43.1 in
+8.6 in in Newark, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Newark, DE

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.6
19.3
+1% in Madison, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.17
$29.73
+64% in Newark, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Madison, WI
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Newark, DE
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Madison, WI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Madison, WI
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Madison, WI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / DE)
5%
None
+5.0 pp in WI
Income Tax (top rate)
7.65%
6.60%
+1.1 pp in WI

Madison vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Madison or Newark?
Madison, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,420 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Madison than in Newark?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $56,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Madison or Newark?
Madison is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Newark under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).