Living Cost Compare
Madison

Wisconsin

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Salt Lake City

Utah

$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 Salt Lake City, UT. Overall, Salt Lake City, UT is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $76,983 in Madison, WI and $74,925 in Salt Lake City, UT — about 3% higher in Madison, WI. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Madison, WI
Salt Lake City, UT

Rent

Studio
$1,018
$997
+2% in Madison, WI
1 Bedroom
$1,219
$1,166
+4% in Madison, WI
2 Bedroom
$1,432
$1,461
+2% in Salt Lake City, UT
3 Bedroom
$1,766
$1,993
+13% in Salt Lake City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$346,900
$495,700
+43% in Salt Lake City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$76,983
$74,925
+3% in Madison, WI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$58,080
$55,240
+5% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
33.0 yr
+1.2 yr in Salt Lake City, UT
Homeownership
46.6%
46.8%
+0.2 pp in Salt Lake City, UT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
59.2%
50.9%
+8.3 pp in Madison, WI
Avg Commute
19.4 min
19.6 min
+0.2 min in Salt Lake City, UT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
259.5
878.8
+239% in Salt Lake City, UT
Property Crime
1,884.5
5,257.3
+179% in Salt Lake City, UT

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
52.8°F
+6.3°F in Salt Lake City, UT
Annual Precipitation
34.5 in
16.1 in
+18.4 in in Madison, WI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.29/gal
+9% in Salt Lake City, UT

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.7
13.0
+34% in Madison, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.79
$10.26
+13% in Madison, WI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Salt Lake City, UT
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Salt Lake City, UT
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Madison, WI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Salt Lake City, UT
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Madison, WI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Salt Lake City, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / UT)
5%
6.1%
+1.1 pp in UT
Income Tax (top rate)
7.65%
4.50%
+3.2 pp in WI

Madison vs Salt Lake City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Madison or Salt Lake City?
Salt Lake City, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Madison, WI's $1,410, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Madison than in Salt Lake City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $47,000 in Salt Lake City.
Which has lower taxes, Madison or Salt Lake City?
Madison is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Salt Lake City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).