Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,410 in Madison, WI versus $1,740 in Sacramento, CA. Overall, Madison, WI is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Sacramento, CA, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $76,983 in Madison, WI and $83,753 in Sacramento, CA — about 8% higher in Sacramento, CA. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs California.
Public Transit
Adult base one-way fare — — vs SacRT (2026).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — Midwest vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Madison vs Sacramento — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Madison or Sacramento?
- Madison, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Sacramento, CA's $1,740, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Madison than in Sacramento?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $57,000 in Sacramento.
- Which has lower taxes, Madison or Sacramento?
- Madison is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Sacramento under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).