City Comparison

Juneau vs Madison

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Juneau

Alaska
127
Expensive
$524,000
Median Home
$1,475/mo
Median Rent
$105,000
Median Income

Madison

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

The Verdict

19.8%

Madison is 19.8% less expensive than Juneau overall. A household earning $75,000 in Juneau would need approximately $62,598 in Madison to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
131
Juneau
115
Madison
Groceries
123
Juneau
101
Madison
Utilities
140
Juneau
97
Madison
Transportation
125
Juneau
103
Madison
Healthcare
151
Juneau
105
Madison

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Juneau has the same purchasing power as $62,598 in Madison.

Conversely, $75,000 in Madison equals $89,858 in Juneau.

Living in Juneau vs Madison

Housing Costs

Juneau's housing index of 131 is higher Madison's 115, translating to median home prices of $524,000 vs $340,000. The $184,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,964 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,475/mo in Juneau compared to $1,400/mo in Madison, a monthly difference of $75.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 123 in Juneau and 101 in Madison. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $584/month in Juneau vs $480/month in Madison. Madison offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1248/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 140 in Juneau and 97 in Madison. Monthly utility bills average approximately $560 in Juneau vs $388 in Madison. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 151 in Juneau and 105 in Madison. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 46-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $105,000 in Juneau and $67,565 in Madison. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,677 and $63,741 respectively. Juneau residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,450/month to housing in Juneau vs $1,577/month in Madison. In Juneau, median rent of $1,475/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 Healthcare, where the gap is 46 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Madison is 19.8% more affordable overall with an index of 106 vs 127.
A $75,000 salary in Juneau has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $62,598 in Madison, based on the cost of living difference.
Juneau's housing index is 131 with median homes at $524,000, while Madison's is 115 with median homes at $340,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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