City Comparison

Beaumont vs Madison

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Beaumont

Texas
78
Very Affordable
$166,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$57,000
Median Income

Madison

Wisconsin
106
Above Average
$340,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$67,565
Median Income

The Verdict

26.4%

The cost gap between these cities is 26.4%, with Beaumont being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to $101,923 in Madison.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
81
Beaumont
115
Madison
Groceries
96
Beaumont
101
Madison
Utilities
102
Beaumont
97
Madison
Transportation
93
Beaumont
103
Madison
Healthcare
104
Beaumont
105
Madison

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has the same purchasing power as $101,923 in Madison.

Conversely, $75,000 in Madison equals $55,189 in Beaumont.

Living in Beaumont vs Madison

Housing Costs

Beaumont's housing index of 81 is lower Madison's 115, translating to median home prices of $166,000 vs $340,000. The $174,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,316 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Beaumont compared to $1,400/mo in Madison, a monthly difference of $400.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Beaumont and 101 in Madison. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Beaumont vs $480/month in Madison. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Beaumont and 97 in Madison. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Beaumont vs $388 in Madison. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Beaumont and 105 in Madison. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $57,000 in Beaumont and $67,565 in Madison. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $73,077 and $63,741 respectively. Beaumont residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,330/month to housing in Beaumont vs $1,577/month in Madison. In Beaumont, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Madison, median rent of $1,400/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 34 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Beaumont is 26.4% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 106.
A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $101,923 in Madison, based on the cost of living difference.
Beaumont's housing index is 81 with median homes at $166,000, while Madison's is 115 with median homes at $340,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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