Is it cheaper to live in Madison or Spokane?

Spokane, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Madison, WI's $1,410, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $36,000 in Spokane.

Which has lower taxes, Madison or Spokane?

Madison is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Spokane under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Madison vs Spokane Cost of Living 2026

Madison

Wisconsin

$1,410/mo est.

Spokane

Washington

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Spokane, WA. Overall, Spokane, WA is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $76,983 in Madison, WI and $65,745 in Spokane, WA — about 15% higher in Madison, WI. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Madison, WI

Spokane, WA

Rent

Studio

$1,018

$884

+13% in Madison, WI

1 Bedroom

$1,219

$903

+26% in Madison, WI

2 Bedroom

$1,432

$1,192

+17% in Madison, WI

3 Bedroom

$1,766

$1,442

+18% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$346,900

$326,200

+6% in Madison, WI

Income

Median Household Income

$76,983

$65,745

+15% in Madison, WI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$58,080

$54,660

+6% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

31.8 yr

37.2 yr

+5.4 yr in Spokane, WA

Homeownership

46.6%

58.3%

+11.7 pp in Spokane, WA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

59.2%

32.6%

+26.6 pp in Madison, WI

Avg Commute

19.4 min

21.2 min

+1.8 min in Spokane, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

259.5

683.6

+163% in Spokane, WA

Property Crime

1,884.5

4,931.8

+162% in Spokane, WA

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

48.9°F

+2.4°F in Spokane, WA

Annual Precipitation

34.5 in

17.8 in

+16.7 in in Madison, WI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.12/gal

+30% in Spokane, WA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Washington.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.7

14.9

+24% in Madison, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.79

$20.41

+73% in Spokane, WA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Spokane, WA

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Spokane, WA

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Madison, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Spokane, WA

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Madison, WI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Spokane, WA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / WA)

6.5%

+1.5 pp in WA

Income Tax (top rate)

7.65%

None

+7.7 pp in WI

Madison vs Spokane — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Madison or Spokane?: Spokane, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Madison, WI's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Madison than in Spokane?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $36,000 in Spokane.
Which has lower taxes, Madison or Spokane?: Madison is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Spokane under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).