Living Cost Compare
Madison

Wisconsin

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/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 $1,280 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Rochester, MN is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $76,983 in Madison, WI and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 12% higher in Rochester, MN. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Madison, WI
Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio
$1,018
$1,080
+6% in Rochester, MN
1 Bedroom
$1,219
$1,106
+9% in Madison, WI
2 Bedroom
$1,432
$1,243
+13% in Madison, WI
3 Bedroom
$1,766
$1,646
+7% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$346,900
$287,500
+17% in Madison, WI

Income

Median Household Income
$76,983
$87,767
+14% in Rochester, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$58,080
$60,620
+4% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
36.4 yr
+4.6 yr in Rochester, MN
Homeownership
46.6%
65.4%
+18.8 pp in Rochester, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
59.2%
50.1%
+9.1 pp in Madison, WI
Avg Commute
19.4 min
17.2 min
+2.2 min in Madison, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
259.5
158.9
+39% in Madison, WI
Property Crime
1,884.5
1,379
+27% 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
45.4°F
+1.1°F in Madison, WI
Annual Precipitation
34.5 in
33.0 in
+1.5 in in Madison, WI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.95/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.7
16.9
+14% in Madison, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.79
$14.95
+27% in Rochester, MN

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 / MN)
5%
6.875%
+1.9 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
7.65%
9.85%
+2.2 pp in MN

Madison vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Madison or Rochester?
Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Madison, WI's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Madison than in Rochester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Madison or Rochester?
Madison is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).