City Comparison

Killeen vs Madison

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Killeen

Texas
84
Very Affordable
$235,000
Median Home
$975/mo
Median Rent
$56,400
Median Income

Madison

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

The Verdict

20.8%

The cost gap between these cities is 20.8%, with Killeen being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Killeen has equivalent purchasing power to $94,643 in Madison.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
56
Killeen
115
Madison
Groceries
96
Killeen
101
Madison
Utilities
108
Killeen
97
Madison
Transportation
95
Killeen
103
Madison
Healthcare
96
Killeen
105
Madison

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Killeen has the same purchasing power as $94,643 in Madison.

Conversely, $75,000 in Madison equals $59,434 in Killeen.

Living in Killeen vs Madison

Housing Costs

Killeen's housing index of 56 is lower Madison's 115, translating to median home prices of $235,000 vs $340,000. The $105,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,828 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Killeen compared to $1,400/mo in Madison, a monthly difference of $425.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Killeen and 101 in Madison. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Killeen 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 108 in Killeen and 97 in Madison. Monthly utility bills average approximately $432 in Killeen 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 96 in Killeen 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 $56,400 in Killeen and $67,565 in Madison. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $67,143 and $63,741 respectively. Killeen residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,316/month to housing in Killeen vs $1,577/month in Madison. In Killeen, median rent of $975/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 59 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Killeen is 20.8% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 106.
A $75,000 salary in Killeen has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $94,643 in Madison, based on the cost of living difference.
Killeen's housing index is 56 with median homes at $235,000, while Madison's is 115 with median homes at $340,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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