Cost of living in Madison: rent, homes and salary
The cost of living in Madison sits 2.7% below the US average: for the Madison, WI metro area, the BEA regional price parity (RPP) in 2024 is 97.3, with the US at 100, and housing by itself is 99.7.
- Level of prices
- 97.3US = 100, BEA 2024
- Price level for housing
- 99.7. For rents, US = 100.
Cost of living index for Madison
A regional price parity sets one place's prices for the same goods and services against the US average, which is set at 100. The Madison, WI metro area includes Madison, and BEA prices that whole area as one. Utilities sit farthest from the US average, at 89.8, or 10.2% below the US.
| Price level, US = 100 | Madison, WI metro | Wisconsin | Metro against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.3 | 94.1 | −2.7% |
| Goods | 93.8 | 94.3 | −6.2% |
| Housing (rents) | 99.7 | 79.3 | −0.3% |
| Utilities | 89.8 | 89.9 | −10.2% |
| Other services | 99.4 | 99.5 | −0.6% |
Regional price parities for metro areas and states, 2024, published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (U.S.). BEA regional price parities
Rents in Madison
Asking rent in Madison typically runs $1,837 a month, up +1.8% on a year. Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) covers rent for homes listed right now. The US figure is $1,932. Census reports median gross rent of $1,484. That figure counts every renting household, not just new leases. One year of the asking rent equals 28% of the median household income.
| Rent | Madison | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical asking rent, Zillow ZORI | $1,837 | $1,932 |
| Asking rent, 12-month change | +1.8% | |
| Median gross rent, Census ACS 2024 | $1,484 | $1,487 |
| A year of asking rent measured against median income | 28% | 28% |
Based on the Zillow Observed Rent Index and Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024, using one-year estimates.
Madison home prices
Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) put the figure for a typical Madison home at $424,543 in September 2026; it measures a home in the middle of the market. Over a year, that figure moved +2.5%, while the US figure was $366,157. That equals 5.4 years of median household income, compared with 4.5 for the US.
| Home prices | Madison | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $424,543 | $366,157 |
| 12-month change | +2.5% | +1.2% |
| 10-year change | +78.5% | +77.4% |
| Price to income (years of median income) | 5.4 | 4.5 |
| Price to rent (years of asking rent) | 19.3 | 15.8 |
Days on market, the forecast, and a price chart going back to 2000: Madison housing market.
Salary required to live in Madison
Where you live and what you earn are two questions that set the Madison salary needed to keep buying what your pay buys now.
- Moving from
- Salary
Method plus every city side by side: city cost of living comparison.
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Madison cost of living compared with other cities
| City | Level of prices | Housing | Typical rent figure | Value of a typical home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | 97.3 | 99.7 | $1,837 | $424,543 |
| Milwaukee | 96.9 | 97.1 | $1,443 | $223,304 |
| New York City | 112.6 | 148.6 | $4,089 | $825,854 |
| Los Angeles | 113.6 | 170.4 | $2,772 | $927,891 |
| Chicago | 103.6 | 112.0 | $2,311 | $334,108 |
| Houston | 98.6 | 104.5 | $1,544 | $259,465 |
| Phoenix | 103.3 | 121.2 | $1,571 | $404,067 |
| Philadelphia | 102.6 | 113.1 | $1,757 | $231,584 |
| San Antonio | 94.7 | 94.6 | $1,381 | $244,623 |
Price levels, from BEA regional price parities 2024, with US = 100. Zillow ZORI is the source for rent. Home values: Zillow ZHVI, September 2026.
All cities ranked: cost of living by city. All states: state-by-state cost of living.