Cost of Living Comparison Between Madison, WI and Sarasota, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Madison, WI and Sarasota, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,040 per month in Madison, WI vs $2,829 in Sarasota, FL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,374 per month in Madison, WI vs $4,419 in Sarasota, FL, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,709 per month in Madison, WI vs $6,009 in Sarasota, FL, rent included.

Madison, WI costs about 7% more than Sarasota, FL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Madison, WI and Sarasota, FL sit above the global median – Madison, WI by 120%, Sarasota, FL by 105%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.64 $19.64

$21.79 $21.79

-9.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.5 $66.5

$79.2 $79.2

-16.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.17 $13.17

$11.12 $11.12

18.44%

Cappuccino

$5.69 $5.69

$5.27 $5.27

7.97%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 $3.07

$3.27 $3.27

-6.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.85 $2.85

-12.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.04 $7.04

$5.46 $5.46

28.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.55 $7.55

$6.94 $6.94

8.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.11 $1.11

-9.01%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 $3.64

$3.82 $3.82

-4.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.43 $4.43

8.13%

Eggs

$3.77 $3.77

$4.01 $4.01

-5.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.33 $15.33

$12.21 $12.21

25.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.34 $13.34

$10.81 $10.81

23.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.82 $20.82

$18.76 $18.76

10.98%

Apples (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.95 $4.95

-1.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.50 $1.50

6.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$2.75 $2.75

95.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

$4.71 $4.71

6.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.81 $3.81

-26.51%

Onion (1kg)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.92 $2.92

5.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.28 $2.28

-5.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.29 $2.29

3.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.64 $10.64

$9.04 $9.04

17.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.38 $15.38

$11.89 $11.89

29.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.13 $2.13

27.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.42 $4.42

$3.76 $3.76

17.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.96 $1.96

5.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.7 $64.7

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 $3.93

$2.82 $2.82

39.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.85 $1.85

7.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.95 $42.95

$35.32 $35.32

21.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.99 $0.99

-4.04%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.7K $35.7K

$36.3K $36.3K

-1.46%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.8K $24.8K

$26.2K $26.2K

-5.11%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$273 $273

$133 $133

105.25%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$51.6 $51.6

$46.00 $46.00

12.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$82.4 $82.4

$79.6 $79.6

3.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.6 $58.6

$47.61 $47.61

23.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.32 $10.32

$13.72 $13.72

-24.78%

Cinema Ticket

$15.26 $15.26

$16.26 $16.26

-6.15%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,715 $1,715

$873 $873

96.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.4K $23.4K

$17.1K $17.1K

36.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.2 $63.2

$63.6 $63.6

-0.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.1 $50.1

$41.36 $41.36

21.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 $109

$92.9 $92.9

16.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 $121

$116 $116

3.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,788 $1,788

$2,199 $2,199

-18.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,495 $1,495

$1,638 $1,638

-8.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,234 $3,234

$3,728 $3,728

-13.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$3,141 $3,141

-19.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,523 $4,523

$4,695 $4,695

-3.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,485 $2,485

$2,790 $2,790

-10.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,326 $4,326

$4,381 $4,381

-1.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.26

6.15

1.79%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Madison, WI: September 8, 2026

Last update for Sarasota, FL: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,788 in Madison, WI versus $2,199 in Sarasota, FL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 1% higher in Sarasota, FL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Madison, WI versus $79.0 in Sarasota, FL. Groceries tell a different story – $441 in Madison, WI vs $394 in Sarasota, FL – so Sarasota, FL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Madison, WI vs Sarasota, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,040 in Madison, WI, $2,829 in Sarasota, FL – roughly 7% apart. Madison, WI costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,560 per month in Madison, WI and $4,244 in Sarasota, FL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sarasota, FL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Madison, WI and $79.0 in Sarasota, FL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% more in Madison, WI, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,040 in Madison, WI and $2,829 in Sarasota, FL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Madison, WI has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,829 in Sarasota, FL to $3,040 in Madison, WI. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Sarasota, FL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Madison, WI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.