City Comparison

Everett vs Madison

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Everett

Washington
136
Expensive
$575,000
Median Home
$1,800/mo
Median Rent
$75,400
Median Income

Madison

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

The Verdict

28.3%

Living in Madison costs 28.3% less than Everett. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Everett, you would need $58,456 in Madison.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
192
Everett
115
Madison
Groceries
109
Everett
101
Madison
Utilities
92
Everett
97
Madison
Transportation
117
Everett
103
Madison
Healthcare
122
Everett
105
Madison

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Everett has the same purchasing power as $58,456 in Madison.

Conversely, $75,000 in Madison equals $96,226 in Everett.

Living in Everett vs Madison

Housing Costs

Everett's housing index of 192 is higher Madison's 115, translating to median home prices of $575,000 vs $340,000. The $235,000 difference in home prices means roughly $15,276 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,800/mo in Everett compared to $1,400/mo in Madison, a monthly difference of $400.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 109 in Everett and 101 in Madison. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $518/month in Everett vs $480/month in Madison. Madison offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 92 in Everett and 97 in Madison. Monthly utility bills average approximately $368 in Everett vs $388 in Madison. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 122 in Everett and 105 in Madison. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 17-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $75,400 in Everett and $67,565 in Madison. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $55,441 and $63,741 respectively. Madison residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,759/month to housing in Everett vs $1,577/month in Madison. In Everett, median rent of $1,800/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. 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 77 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Madison is 28.3% more affordable overall with an index of 106 vs 136.
A $75,000 salary in Everett has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $58,456 in Madison, based on the cost of living difference.
Everett's housing index is 192 with median homes at $575,000, while Madison's is 115 with median homes at $340,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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