Living Cost Compare
Madison

Wisconsin

$1,410/mo est.

vs
St. Paul

Minnesota

$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 St. Paul, MN. Overall, St. Paul, MN 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 $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 5% higher in Madison, WI. 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
St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio
$1,018
$995
+2% in Madison, WI
1 Bedroom
$1,219
$1,126
+8% in Madison, WI
2 Bedroom
$1,432
$1,384
+3% in Madison, WI
3 Bedroom
$1,766
$1,662
+6% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$346,900
$280,300
+19% in Madison, WI

Income

Median Household Income
$76,983
$73,055
+5% in Madison, WI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$58,080
$59,320
+2% in St. Paul, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
33.5 yr
+1.7 yr in St. Paul, MN
Homeownership
46.6%
53.2%
+6.6 pp in St. Paul, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
59.2%
43.5%
+15.7 pp in Madison, WI
Avg Commute
19.4 min
22.3 min
+2.9 min in St. Paul, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
259.5
619
+139% in St. Paul, MN
Property Crime
1,884.5
2,897.2
+54% in St. Paul, MN

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
47.1°F
+0.6°F in St. Paul, MN
Annual Precipitation
34.5 in
28.5 in
+6.0 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 St. Paul, 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 St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Madison or St. Paul?
St. Paul, MN 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 St. Paul?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Madison or St. Paul?
Madison is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); St. Paul 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).