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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,864 per month in Madison, WI vs $3,583 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,134 per month in Madison, WI vs $5,632 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,405 per month in Madison, WI vs $7,681 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Madison, WI is about 20% cheaper than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Madison, WI and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Madison, WI by 114%, Seattle, WA by 168%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.24 $15.24

$24.97 $24.97

-38.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.3 $76.3

$119 $119

-36.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 $10.92

$13.90 $13.90

-21.44%

Cappuccino

$5.24 $5.24

$5.56 $5.56

-5.76%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$3.06 $3.06

-14.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.47 $2.47

-5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.18 $6.18

$7.96 $7.96

-22.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.82 $6.82

$8.01 $8.01

-14.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.34 $1.34

-33.58%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$5.05 $5.05

-26.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.10 $5.10

$5.36 $5.36

-4.85%

Eggs

$3.98 $3.98

$6.59 $6.59

-39.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.79 $13.79

$25.31 $25.31

-45.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.39 $13.39

$16.19 $16.19

-17.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.57 $16.57

$20.30 $20.30

-18.37%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$5.97 $5.97

-25.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.74 $2.74

-44.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.86 $5.86

$5.36 $5.36

9.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$6.61 $6.61

-29.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 $2.61

$3.25 $3.25

-19.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$3.79 $3.79

-24.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.73 $2.73

-25.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.53 $2.53

-22.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.96 $9.96

$11.31 $11.31

-11.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.75 $15.75

$16.28 $16.28

-3.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.85 $2.85

-20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.83 $4.83

$4.16 $4.16

16.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.69 $2.69

-27.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.1 $63.1

$97.1 $97.1

-34.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.52 $4.52

$2.71 $2.71

66.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.73 $1.73

28.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.40 $42.40

$29.46 $29.46

43.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.20 $1.20

-29.17%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$33.6K $33.6K

-24.43%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.0K $26.0K

-0.94%

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

$216 $216

$266 $266

-19.06%

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

$50.2 $50.2

$60.4 $60.4

-16.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.4 $74.4

$76.2 $76.2

-2.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.6 $63.6

$79.2 $79.2

-19.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.07 $30.07

$40.51 $40.51

-25.77%

Cinema Ticket

$14.83 $14.83

$16.22 $16.22

-8.57%

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

$1,656 $1,656

$2,280 $2,280

-27.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.0K $25.0K

$29.6K $29.6K

-15.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.7 $67.7

$69.6 $69.6

-2.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.64 $47.64

$52.6 $52.6

-9.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.4 $99.4

$120 $120

-16.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 $134

$143 $143

-5.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,701 $1,701

$2,378 $2,378

-28.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,438 $1,438

$1,866 $1,866

-22.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,068 $3,068

$4,724 $4,724

-35.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$3,510 $3,510

-30.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,392 $4,392

$7,711 $7,711

-43.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,563 $2,563

$5,381 $5,381

-52.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,331 $4,331

$6,493 $6,493

-33.30%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,701 in Madison, WI versus $2,378 in Seattle, WA. 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 50% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Madison, WI versus $119 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $416 vs $544 – 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 Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,864 in Madison, WI, $3,583 in Seattle, WA – roughly 25% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,296 per month in Madison, WI and $5,374 in Seattle, WA. 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.

Public transport costs about 54% less in Madison, WI. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,656 per month in Madison, WI and $2,280 in Seattle, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,864 in Madison, WI and $3,583 in Seattle, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,864 in Madison, WI to $3,583 in Seattle, WA. 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, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.