Is it cheaper to live in Madison or Wilmington?

Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Madison, WI's $1,410, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $41,000 in Wilmington.

Which has lower taxes, Madison or Wilmington?

Madison is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax).

Madison vs Wilmington Cost of Living 2026

Madison

Wisconsin

$1,410/mo est.

Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Wilmington, DE is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $76,983 in Madison, WI and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 28% higher in Madison, WI. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Madison, WI

Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio

$1,018

$1,103

+8% in Wilmington, DE

1 Bedroom

$1,219

$1,024

+16% in Madison, WI

2 Bedroom

$1,432

$1,213

+15% in Madison, WI

3 Bedroom

$1,766

$1,394

+21% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$346,900

$224,500

+35% in Madison, WI

Income

Median Household Income

$76,983

$55,269

+28% in Madison, WI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$58,080

$54,310

+6% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

31.8 yr

37.0 yr

+5.2 yr in Wilmington, DE

Homeownership

46.6%

46.0%

+0.6 pp in Madison, WI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

59.2%

33.1%

+26.1 pp in Madison, WI

Avg Commute

19.4 min

23.0 min

+3.6 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

259.5

1,138.2

+339% in Wilmington, DE

Property Crime

1,884.5

3,182.4

+69% in Wilmington, DE

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

54.9°F

+8.4°F in Wilmington, DE

Annual Precipitation

34.5 in

43.1 in

+8.6 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.86/gal

+2% in Madison, WI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.7

19.4

+2% in Madison, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.79

$22.51

+91% in Wilmington, DE

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 Wilmington, DE

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

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / DE)

None

+5.0 pp in WI

Income Tax (top rate)

7.65%

6.60%

+1.1 pp in WI

Madison vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Madison or Wilmington?: Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Madison, WI's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Madison than in Wilmington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Madison or Wilmington?: Madison is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).