Median rent is 1% lower in Madison ($1,364/mo vs $1,380/mo). Buying is cheaper in Chicago, where the median home runs $315,200 versus $346,900. Households earn more in Madison ($76,983 vs $75,134 a year).
City A
Chicago, IL
City B
Madison, WI
How much would you need to earn in Madison, WI to maintain your standard of living from Chicago, IL?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Chicago
Illinois
Madison
Wisconsin
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rents are similar in both cities: $1,380/mo in Chicago and $1,364/mo in Madison. Median home values are within 9% of each other: $315,200 in Chicago and $346,900 in Madison.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Illinois's top income tax rate is 4.95% versus 7.65% in Wisconsin, so Chicago is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 6.25% in Illinois and 5.00% in Wisconsin; Madison has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Chicago
Income tax: 4.95%
Sales tax: 6.25%
Madison
Income tax: 7.65%
Sales tax: 5.00%
Madison has cleaner air on average: 10.0 AQI (Good) compared to 21.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Madison if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 10.0).
Pick Chicago if you prioritize lower state income tax (4.95%).
Is Chicago cheaper than Madison?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Chicago vs Madison?
Median rent is $1,380/mo in Chicago, IL and $1,364/mo in Madison, WI. Madison, WI has the lower rent by about 1%.
Which has higher salaries — Chicago or Madison?
Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $76,983 in Madison, WI. Madison, WI has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Madison, WI has better air quality on average: 10.0 AQI versus 21.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Chicago or Madison?
Illinois's top income tax rate is 4.95% and Wisconsin's is 7.65%. Chicago, IL has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Madison to match my Chicago income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology