Living Cost Compare
Madison

Wisconsin

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,050/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 $1,050 in Oklahoma City, OK. Overall, Oklahoma City, OK 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 $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK — about 13% higher in Madison, WI. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Madison, WI
Oklahoma City, OK

Rent

Studio
$1,018
$795
+22% in Madison, WI
1 Bedroom
$1,219
$882
+28% in Madison, WI
2 Bedroom
$1,432
$1,085
+24% in Madison, WI
3 Bedroom
$1,766
$1,356
+23% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$346,900
$215,100
+38% in Madison, WI

Income

Median Household Income
$76,983
$66,702
+13% in Madison, WI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$58,080
$47,230
+19% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
35.0 yr
+3.2 yr in Oklahoma City, OK
Homeownership
46.6%
59.1%
+12.5 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
59.2%
34.0%
+25.2 pp in Madison, WI
Avg Commute
19.4 min
22.2 min
+2.8 min in Oklahoma City, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
259.5
685.9
+164% in Oklahoma City, OK
Property Crime
1,884.5
2,929.1
+55% in Oklahoma City, OK

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
61.5°F
+15.0°F in Oklahoma City, OK
Annual Precipitation
34.5 in
36.5 in
+2.0 in in Oklahoma City, OK

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)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.7
13.4
+32% in Madison, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.79
$27.15
+130% in Oklahoma City, OK

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 Oklahoma City, OK
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 / OK)
5%
4.5%
+0.5 pp in WI
Income Tax (top rate)
7.65%
4.50%
+3.2 pp in WI

Madison vs Oklahoma City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Madison or Oklahoma City?
Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,050 (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 Oklahoma City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $35,000 in Oklahoma City.
Which has lower taxes, Madison or Oklahoma City?
Madison is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Oklahoma City under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).