Kenosha vs Madison
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Kenosha
Madison
The Verdict
Kenosha is 14.2% less expensive than Madison overall. A household earning $75,000 in Kenosha would need approximately $87,363 in Madison to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Kenosha has the same purchasing power as $87,363 in Madison.
Conversely, $75,000 in Madison equals $64,387 in Kenosha.
Living in Kenosha vs Madison
Housing Costs
Kenosha's housing index of 82 is lower Madison's 115, translating to median home prices of $275,000 vs $340,000. The $65,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,224 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,250/mo in Kenosha compared to $1,400/mo in Madison, a monthly difference of $150.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Kenosha and 101 in Madison. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Kenosha 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 95 in Kenosha and 97 in Madison. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Kenosha vs $388 in Madison. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 96 in Kenosha and 105 in Madison. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $68,900 in Kenosha and $67,565 in Madison. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $75,714 and $63,741 respectively. Kenosha residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,608/month to housing in Kenosha vs $1,577/month in Madison. In Kenosha, median rent of $1,250/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 33 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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