Overall
97.3
-2.7 below avg
2024 BEA RPP All 4 categories Federal source
Madison, WI
Cost-of-living indicators for Madison, WI, compiled from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2024 data year). Categories include All Items, Goods, Services, and Rents.
CBSA: 31540 · Data year: 2024 · Rank: #125 of 387
Madison, WI has a cost of living index of 97.3, meaning it's 2.7% less expensive than the national average. Goods cost 6.2% less, services 10.2% less, and rents are 0.3% below average. A $100K national salary has the purchasing power of $102,789 here.
What the Numbers Mean for Madison
Madison ranks #125 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the upper half by cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 97.3, Madison, WI is 2.7% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Madison's most and least expensive categories — the priciest line item versus services at 89.8 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $102,789 inside Madison, while a household needs roughly $97,287 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 99.7 — 0.3% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Madison's overall index has stayed within 0.8 points, holding steady versus other U.S. metros. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 93.8 and services at 89.8, meaning everyday spending in Madison is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Madison Cost Index at a Glance
Madison all-items cost index
Regional Price Parity vs national average (100)
Madison category breakdown
BEA RPP composition by goods, services, rents, overall
Price Index Summary
Goods
93.8
-6.2 below avg
Services
89.8
-10.2 below avg
Rents
99.7
-0.3 below avg
Price Index vs National Average (100)
Overall
National avg
Index 97.3 (-2.7 vs national avg)
Goods
National avg
Index 93.8 (-6.2 vs national avg)
Services
National avg
Index 89.8 (-10.2 vs national avg)
Rents
National avg
Index 99.7 (-0.3 vs national avg)
Vertical line on each bar = national average (100)
Cost Breakdown Analysis
Below National Average
Services -10.2% (89.8)
Goods -6.2% (93.8)
Overall -2.7% (97.3)
Rents -0.3% (99.7)
Income Adequacy in Madison
Madison income adequacy score
$75,000 median income vs RPP 97.3
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$97,287
in Madison, WI purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$48,644
$75,000 nationally
$72,965
$125,000 nationally
$121,609
$150,000 nationally
$145,931
$200,000 nationally
$194,574
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has remained relatively stable, changing by only 0.8 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.1 |
| 2009 | 98.6 |
| 2010 | 98.7 |
| 2011 | 96.8 |
| 2012 | 97.4 |
| 2013 | 97.8 |
| 2014 | 98.1 |
| 2015 | 95.9 |
| 2016 | 95.9 |
| 2017 | 95.6 |
| 2018 | 98.3 |
| 2019 | 98.1 |
| 2020 | 95.9 |
| 2021 | 96.6 |
| 2022 | 95.5 |
| 2023 | 95.9 |
| 2024 | 97.3 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Madison, WI's index of 97.3.
Other WI Metros
Related Data for Madison
Salary Data
BLS occupation wages for Madison area
Fair Market Rents
HUD rent data for Madison metro
Crime Rates
FBI UCR crime data near Madison
School Districts
NCES school data for Madison area
ZIP Code Data
Census demographics for Madison area
Life Score
Quality-of-life composite rating
Relocation Guide
7-dimension relocation intelligence
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Madison, WI? ▼
Madison, WI has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 97.3, meaning it is 2.7% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 93.8, services at 89.8, and rents at 99.7. It ranks #125 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Madison, WI to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $97,287 in Madison, WI. Conversely, $100K earned in Madison, WI has the purchasing power of $102,789 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Madison, WI? ▼
Rents in Madison, WI are indexed at 99.7, which is 0.3% below the national average. This is close to the U.S. average.
Is Madison, WI getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Madison, WI's overall cost index changed by -0.8 points (from 98.1 to 97.3). The cost of living has remained relatively stable.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Madison, WI? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Panama City-Panama City Beach, St. George, Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Madison, WI's 97.3.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official U.S. government datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — cost-of-living indices by metro and state. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — inflation context by metro. bls.gov/cpi
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — housing-cost component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage component. bls.gov/oes
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS — household income + demographics. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-burden context. irs.gov/statistics
