Living Cost Compare
Madison

Wisconsin

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,550/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 $1,550 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Madison, WI is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $76,983 in Madison, WI and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 15% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Madison, WI
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$1,018
$1,496
+47% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,219
$1,357
+11% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,432
$1,559
+9% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,766
$1,857
+5% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$346,900
$366,300
+6% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$76,983
$90,685
+18% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$58,080
$49,430
+15% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
37.4 yr
+5.6 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
46.6%
64.9%
+18.3 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
59.2%
40.4%
+18.8 pp in Madison, WI
Avg Commute
19.4 min
23.2 min
+3.8 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
259.5
96.9
+63% in Madison, WI
Property Crime
1,884.5
1,664.9
+12% in Madison, WI

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
59.9°F
+13.4°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
34.5 in
44.3 in
+9.8 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Madison, WI

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs HRT (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.7
17.6
+11% in Madison, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.79
$23.66
+101% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Madison, WI
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Virginia Beach, VA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Madison, WI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Madison, WI
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Madison, WI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / VA)
5%
5.3%
+0.3 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
7.65%
5.75%
+1.9 pp in WI

Madison vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Madison or Virginia Beach?
Madison, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Madison than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Madison or Virginia Beach?
Madison is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).