The cost of living in Madison is reflected by an index of 64, with rent index at 59. This page helps compare living expenses, rent, groceries, and affordability in Madison.
Madison has a cost of living index of 64 and a rent index of 59. That makes it mid-to-high cost compared with many US cities. Grocery and restaurant costs are shown below to help users compare daily spending.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 64 |
| Rent index | 59 |
| Groceries index | 67 |
| Restaurant price index | 69 |
| Local purchasing power | 98 |
| 1-bed rent in city centre | $1,542 |
| 1-bed rent outside centre | $1,234 |
Users often compare local prices with local pay. See the average salary in Madison.
This page shows the relative cost, rent, grocery, and restaurant indices so users can compare Madison with other places in the US.
The sample dataset on this starter site uses a one-bedroom city-centre rent estimate of $1,542 per month.
Sources: Numbeo for cost of living metrics. Cost update: 2026-04-01. Salary context from BLS 2025.