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 $2,853 per month in Madison, WI vs $3,097 in Sarasota, FL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,198 per month in Madison, WI vs $4,601 in Sarasota, FL, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,543 per month in Madison, WI vs $6,105 in Sarasota, FL, rent included.

Madison, WI is about 8% cheaper than Sarasota, FL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Madison, WI and Sarasota, FL sit above the global median – Madison, WI by 113%, Sarasota, FL by 131%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.06 $15.06

$19.68 $19.68

-23.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.6 $73.6

$88.4 $88.4

-16.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.10 $11.10

$10.08 $10.08

10.12%

Cappuccino

$5.27 $5.27

$5.58 $5.58

-5.56%

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

$2.70 $2.70

$3.01 $3.01

-10.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.65 $2.65

-10.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.02 $6.02

$5.96 $5.96

1.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.18 $7.18

$8.03 $8.03

-10.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.17 $1.17

-20.51%

White Bread (500g)

$3.70 $3.70

$3.78 $3.78

-2.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$4.28 $4.28

23.83%

Eggs

$4.15 $4.15

$4.39 $4.39

-5.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.13 $14.13

$13.20 $13.20

7.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.41 $13.41

$17.40 $17.40

-22.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.57 $16.57

$22.56 $22.56

-26.55%

Apples (1kg)

$4.50 $4.50

$5.62 $5.62

-19.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.56 $1.56

-5.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.94 $5.94

$3.75 $3.75

58.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$5.50 $5.50

-16.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.62 $2.62

$4.24 $4.24

-38.21%

Onion (1kg)

$3.02 $3.02

$3.41 $3.41

-11.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.52 $2.52

-20.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.38 $2.38

-18.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.96 $9.96

$8.06 $8.06

23.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.91 $15.91

$11.71 $11.71

35.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.07 $2.07

15.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.33 $4.33

11.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.04 $2.04

-4.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.2 $63.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.47 $4.47

$2.50 $2.50

78.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 $2.12

$1.66 $1.66

27.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.43 $41.43

$29.46 $29.46

40.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.86 $0.86

4.65%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$29.9K $29.9K

-17.30%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$24.9K $24.9K

2.92%

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

$218 $218

$163 $163

33.83%

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

$51.6 $51.6

$47.63 $47.63

8.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.5 $74.5

$71.0 $71.0

4.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.6 $64.6

$42.66 $42.66

51.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.67 $29.67

$17.55 $17.55

69.06%

Cinema Ticket

$14.90 $14.90

$15.16 $15.16

-1.72%

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

$1,603 $1,603

$1,083 $1,083

47.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.6K $24.6K

$18.1K $18.1K

35.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$61.2 $61.2

10.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.40 $48.40

$44.36 $44.36

9.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.7 $99.7

$120 $120

-16.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 $135

$131 $131

3.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$2,141 $2,141

-21.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,437 $1,437

$1,879 $1,879

-23.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,065 $3,065

$3,628 $3,628

-15.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,486 $2,486

$3,108 $3,108

-19.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,465 $4,465

$4,703 $4,703

-5.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,484 $2,484

$2,858 $2,858

-13.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,518 $4,518

$4,353 $4,353

3.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.63

-1.21%

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

Last update for Madison, WI: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sarasota, FL: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,678 in Madison, WI versus $2,141 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 4% higher in Madison, WI, 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 $74.0 in Madison, WI versus $88.0 in Sarasota, FL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $420 vs $459 – making Madison, WI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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: $2,853 in Madison, WI, $3,097 in Sarasota, FL – roughly 9% apart. Sarasota, FL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,280 per month in Madison, WI and $4,645 in Sarasota, FL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Madison, WI, 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 $74.0 in Madison, WI and $88.0 in Sarasota, FL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Sarasota, FL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,853 in Madison, WI and $3,097 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 $2,853 in Madison, WI to $3,097 in Sarasota, FL. 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 Madison, WI. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sarasota, FL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.