Living Cost Compare
Madison

Wisconsin

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Springfield

Missouri

$940/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 $940 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $76,983 in Madison, WI and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 40% higher in Madison, WI. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Madison, WI
Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio
$1,018
$760
+25% in Madison, WI
1 Bedroom
$1,219
$772
+37% in Madison, WI
2 Bedroom
$1,432
$926
+35% in Madison, WI
3 Bedroom
$1,766
$1,158
+34% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$346,900
$165,200
+52% in Madison, WI

Income

Median Household Income
$76,983
$45,984
+40% in Madison, WI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$58,080
$45,780
+21% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
33.6 yr
+1.8 yr in Springfield, MO
Homeownership
46.6%
42.9%
+3.7 pp in Madison, WI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
59.2%
30.3%
+28.9 pp in Madison, WI
Avg Commute
19.4 min
18.0 min
+1.4 min in Madison, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
259.5
1,189.8
+358% in Springfield, MO
Property Crime
1,884.5
4,231.6
+125% in Springfield, MO

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
56.3°F
+9.8°F in Springfield, MO
Annual Precipitation
34.5 in
45.6 in
+11.1 in in Springfield, MO

Gas

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

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.7
13.7
+31% in Madison, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.79
$24.13
+105% in Springfield, MO

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 / MO)
5%
4.225%
+0.8 pp in WI
Income Tax (top rate)
7.65%
4.70%
+3.0 pp in WI

Madison vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Madison or Springfield?
Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Madison, WI's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Madison than in Springfield?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Madison or Springfield?
Madison is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).