Is it cheaper to live in Madison or Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Madison, WI's $1,410, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Madison than in Pittsburgh?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.

Which has lower taxes, Madison or Pittsburgh?

Madison is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Pittsburgh under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax).

Madison vs Pittsburgh Cost of Living 2026

Madison

Wisconsin

$1,410/mo est.

Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Pittsburgh, PA. Overall, Pittsburgh, PA is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $76,983 in Madison, WI and $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA — about 17% higher in Madison, WI. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Madison, WI

Pittsburgh, PA

Rent

Studio

$1,018

$1,109

+9% in Pittsburgh, PA

1 Bedroom

$1,219

$1,079

+11% in Madison, WI

2 Bedroom

$1,432

$1,269

+11% in Madison, WI

3 Bedroom

$1,766

$1,450

+18% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$346,900

$193,200

+44% in Madison, WI

Income

Median Household Income

$76,983

$64,137

+17% in Madison, WI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$58,080

$49,650

+15% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

31.8 yr

33.5 yr

+1.7 yr in Pittsburgh, PA

Homeownership

46.6%

47.2%

+0.6 pp in Pittsburgh, PA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

59.2%

47.8%

+11.4 pp in Madison, WI

Avg Commute

19.4 min

23.1 min

+3.7 min in Pittsburgh, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

259.5

436

+68% in Pittsburgh, PA

Property Crime

1,884.5

2,315.7

+23% in Pittsburgh, PA

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

51.8°F

+5.3°F in Pittsburgh, PA

Annual Precipitation

34.5 in

39.3 in

+4.8 in in Pittsburgh, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.86/gal

+2% in Madison, WI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.7

21.6

+9% in Pittsburgh, PA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.79

$19.17

+63% in Pittsburgh, PA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Pittsburgh, PA

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Madison, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Pittsburgh, PA

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Pittsburgh, PA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Pittsburgh, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / PA)

+1.0 pp in PA

Income Tax (top rate)

7.65%

3.07%

+4.6 pp in WI

Madison vs Pittsburgh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Madison or Pittsburgh?: Pittsburgh, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Madison, WI's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Madison than in Pittsburgh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.
Which has lower taxes, Madison or Pittsburgh?: Madison is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Pittsburgh under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).