Cost of Living Comparison Between Madison, WI and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Madison, WI and Seattle, WA

🙂 Solo nomad: Madison, WI is 20.2% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 21.3% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Madison, WI is 24.3% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 28.9% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.94 $14.94

$25.11 $25.11

-40.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75 $75

$118 $118

-36.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.87 $10.87

$13.84 $13.84

-21.46%

Cappuccino

$5.3 $5.3

$5.8 $5.8

-8.62%

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

$2.7 $2.7

$2.95 $2.95

-8.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.51 $2.51

-9.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 $5.92

$7.81 $7.81

-24.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.84 $7.84

-12.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.34 $1.34

-34.33%

White Bread (500g)

$3.79 $3.79

$4.98 $4.98

-23.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.32 $5.32

$5.35 $5.35

-0.56%

Eggs

$4.07 $4.07

$6.91 $6.91

-41.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.68 $13.68

$24.8 $24.8

-44.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.08 $13.08

$15.74 $15.74

-16.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.17 $16.17

$20.84 $20.84

-22.41%

Apples (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$6.05 $6.05

-24.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.75 $2.75

-44.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.8 $5.8

$5.47 $5.47

6.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.81 $4.81

$6.45 $6.45

-25.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.62 $2.62

$3.11 $3.11

-15.76%

Onion (1kg)

$3.02 $3.02

$3.69 $3.69

-18.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.78 $2.78

-29.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.52 $2.52

-19.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.89 $9.89

$11.64 $11.64

-15.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.19 $12.19

$17.15 $17.15

-28.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.94 $2.94

-19.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 $4.71

$4.19 $4.19

12.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.8 $2.8

-30.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.4 $62.4

$101 $101

-38.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.46 $4.46

$2.68 $2.68

66.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.65 $1.65

29.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.61 $42.61

$30.13 $30.13

41.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.16 $1.16

-24.14%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$33.3K $33.3K

-25.63%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.3K $26.3K

-2.92%

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

$217 $217

$271 $271

-20.01%

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

$50.9 $50.9

$61.8 $61.8

-17.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.7 $73.7

$75.2 $75.2

-1.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.6 $63.6

$78.4 $78.4

-18.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.52 $29.52

$41.04 $41.04

-28.07%

Cinema Ticket

$14.88 $14.88

$15.89 $15.89

-6.36%

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

$1,655 $1,655

$2,248 $2,248

-26.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.1K $24.1K

$29K $29K

-16.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.1 $67.1

$69.5 $69.5

-3.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.04 $49.04

$52.5 $52.5

-6.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$120 $120

-15.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 $133

$142 $142

-6.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 $1,687

$2,376 $2,376

-28.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,459 $1,459

$1,829 $1,829

-20.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,027 $3,027

$4,702 $4,702

-35.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,440 $2,440

$3,474 $3,474

-29.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 $2,925

$6,928 $6,928

-57.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,414 $2,414

$5,224 $5,224

-53.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,398 $4,398

$6,473 $6,473

-32.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.42

2.02%

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

Last update for Madison, WI: October 27, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

Dubai

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

Toronto

🇨🇦 Canada

Singapore

🇸🇬 Singapore

Dublin

🇮🇪 Ireland

Milan

🇮🇹 Italy

Melbourne

🇦🇺 Australia

Paris

🇫🇷 France