Minneapolis vs Madison
Minneapolis, MN · Madison, WI
Madison is 3% cheaper than Minneapolis overall.
Home Price
Minneapolis: $330,000
Madison: $380,000
Monthly Rent
Minneapolis: $1,114/mo
Madison: $1,499/mo
COL Index
Minneapolis: 105
Madison: 102
Median Income
Minneapolis: $80,600
Madison: $74,200
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in Minneapolis has the same purchasing power as $97,143 in Madison — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Madison are 15% cheaper (-$50,000 less). That's a significant down payment and monthly payment difference.
Renting
Renting in Minneapolis saves you $385/month — $4,620 per year. Median rent: $1,114/mo in Minneapolis vs $1,499/mo in Madison.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Minneapolis owners pay roughly $3,630/year in property taxes vs $6,840/year in Madison. That's a $3,210 annual difference.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $80,600 in Minneapolis and $74,200 in Madison. Madison residents earn 8% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 25 minutes in Minneapolis vs 22 minutes in Madison. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Minneapolis to Madison, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Minneapolis | Equivalent in Madison | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $48,571 | -$1,429 |
| $75,000 | $72,857 | -$2,143 |
| $100,000 | $97,143 | -$2,857 |
| $150,000 | $145,714 | -$4,286 |
| $200,000 | $194,286 | -$5,714 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
Mortgage Calculator
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Rent vs Buy
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Cost of Living
Full cost of living comparison tool
Home Appreciation
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Affordability Calculator
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Property Tax Calculator
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Minneapolis Calculators
Madison Calculators
Related Comparisons
Minneapolis vs Madison: Common Questions
Is Minneapolis or Madison cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Madison is cheaper overall. Minneapolis has a COL index of 105 while Madison scores 102 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Minneapolis and Madison?
The median home price in Minneapolis is $330,000 vs $380,000 in Madison — a difference of $50,000 (15%).
What salary do I need in Madison to match my Minneapolis income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Minneapolis is equivalent to $97,143 in Madison in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Minneapolis has a lower property tax rate (1.1% vs 1.8%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $3,630/year vs $6,840/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.