Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Madison, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Madison, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,841 per month in New York, NY vs $2,979 in Madison, WI, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,287 per month in New York, NY vs $4,390 in Madison, WI, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,734 per month in New York, NY vs $5,802 in Madison, WI, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 63% more than Madison, WI, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both New York, NY and Madison, WI sit above the global median – New York, NY by 254%, Madison, WI by 118%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.33 $25.33

$19.87 $19.87

27.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$66.5 $66.5

113.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$13.06 $13.06

5.51%

Cappuccino

$6.19 $6.19

$5.64 $5.64

9.75%

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

$3.69 $3.69

$3.24 $3.24

13.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.47 $2.47

19.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$6.85 $6.85

13.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.14 $10.14

$7.72 $7.72

31.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.95 $0.95

46.32%

White Bread (500g)

$4.59 $4.59

$3.59 $3.59

27.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.94 $6.94

$4.62 $4.62

50.22%

Eggs

$5.79 $5.79

$3.62 $3.62

59.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.32 $17.32

$14.71 $14.71

17.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$13.29 $13.29

13.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.02 $18.02

$19.96 $19.96

-9.72%

Apples (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$4.76 $4.76

32.14%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.59 $1.59

33.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.80 $5.80

$5.40 $5.40

7.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$4.99 $4.99

25.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.78 $2.78

21.94%

Onion (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$3.11 $3.11

37.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.08 $2.08

33.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.42 $2.42

5.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$10.81 $10.81

72.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.30 $20.30

$15.85 $15.85

28.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.76 $2.76

14.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 $4.03

$4.34 $4.34

-7.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.02 $2.02

47.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$138 $138

$64.8 $64.8

113.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.89 $3.89

-20.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.97 $1.97

8.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.56 $41.56

$42.90 $42.90

-3.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.01 $1.01

11.88%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

0.01%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$25.0K $25.0K

2.51%

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

$236 $236

$273 $273

-13.40%

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

$73.7 $73.7

$51.6 $51.6

42.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.4 $72.4

$80.6 $80.6

-10.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$125 $125

$58.9 $58.9

112.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.1 $63.1

$10.52 $10.52

499.43%

Cinema Ticket

$23.37 $23.37

$15.05 $15.05

55.28%

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

$3,353 $3,353

$1,722 $1,722

94.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$61.0K $61.0K

$23.7K $23.7K

157.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.4 $72.4

$64.9 $64.9

11.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 $52.2

$49.75 $49.75

4.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$107 $107

9.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$120 $120

3.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,438 $4,438

$1,739 $1,739

155.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,045 $3,045

$1,510 $1,510

101.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,088 $9,088

$3,144 $3,144

189.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,404 $5,404

$2,544 $2,544

112.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.8K $18.8K

$4,481 $4,481

319.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,500 $6,500

$2,478 $2,478

162.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,258 $5,258

$4,387 $4,387

19.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.26

3.67%

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

Last update for New York, NY: September 12, 2026

Last update for Madison, WI: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,438 in New York, NY versus $1,739 in Madison, WI. 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 20% higher in New York, NY, 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 $142 in New York, NY versus $67.0 in Madison, WI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $516 vs $435 – 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

New York, NY vs Madison, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,841 in New York, NY, $2,979 in Madison, WI – roughly 63% apart. New York, NY costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,261 per month in New York, NY and $4,468 in Madison, WI. 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 113% less in Madison, WI. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $3,353 per month in New York, NY and $1,722 in Madison, WI. 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 $4,841 in New York, NY and $2,979 in Madison, WI. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. New York, NY has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,979 in Madison, WI to $4,841 in New York, NY. 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, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.