Cost of Living in Madison, WI
| Cost of Living in Madison, WI | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 19% higher | 6% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 4% higher | 5% higher |
| Food | 1% higher | 0% |
| Healthcare | 10% higher | 20% higher |
| Transportation | 4% lower | 5% lower |
| Goods & Services | 6% higher | 7% higher |
The cost of living in Madison, WI is 7% higher than the state average and 5% higher than the national average. Madison, WI housing is 6% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 5% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 7% more in Madison, WI than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 7% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 20% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 7% pricier in Madison, WI.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Madison is $1,706, while home prices circle around $567,561.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Madison, energy bills cost around $219.44 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.77 in Madison, a dozen eggs go for around $3.84 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.10.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Madison, an optometry check-up costs around $68.29, while a dentist appointment is priced $125.28 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.10 in Madison, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $59.75.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $50.85 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $41.66.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Madison, you should budget around $13.31 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $24.85, while dry cleaning costs about $19.66.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Madison, the median household income is $74,895.