Is it cheaper to live in Madison or Raleigh?

Madison, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $53,000 in Raleigh.

Which has lower taxes, Madison or Raleigh?

Madison is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax).

Madison vs Raleigh Cost of Living 2026

Madison

Wisconsin

$1,410/mo est.

Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/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 $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Madison, WI is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $76,983 in Madison, WI and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 7% higher in Raleigh, NC. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Madison, WI

Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio

$1,018

$1,301

+28% in Raleigh, NC

1 Bedroom

$1,219

$1,323

+9% in Raleigh, NC

2 Bedroom

$1,432

$1,462

+2% in Raleigh, NC

3 Bedroom

$1,766

$1,715

+3% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$346,900

$377,800

+9% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income

$76,983

$82,424

+7% in Raleigh, NC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$58,080

$51,990

+10% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

31.8 yr

34.7 yr

+2.9 yr in Raleigh, NC

Homeownership

46.6%

51.2%

+4.6 pp in Raleigh, NC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

59.2%

52.9%

+6.3 pp in Madison, WI

Avg Commute

19.4 min

23.4 min

+4.0 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

259.5

491.5

+89% in Raleigh, NC

Property Crime

1,884.5

2,838.4

+51% in Raleigh, NC

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

60.6°F

+14.1°F in Raleigh, NC

Annual Precipitation

34.5 in

46.0 in

+11.5 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.86/gal

+2% in Madison, WI

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.7

15.1

+24% in Madison, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.79

$27.56

+134% in Raleigh, NC

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 Raleigh, NC

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

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / NC)

4.75%

+0.3 pp in WI

Income Tax (top rate)

7.65%

3.99%

+3.7 pp in WI

Madison vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Madison or Raleigh?: Madison, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Madison than in Raleigh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Madison or Raleigh?: Madison is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).