Madison vs Vienna
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Madison
Vienna
The Verdict
Living in Vienna costs 20.5% less than Madison. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Madison, you would need $62,264 in Vienna.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Madison has the same purchasing power as $62,264 in Vienna.
Conversely, $75,000 in Vienna equals $90,341 in Madison.
Living in Madison vs Vienna
Housing Costs
Madison's housing index of 115 is higher Vienna's 105, translating to median home prices of $340,000 vs $395,000. The $55,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,576 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Madison compared to $1,275/mo in Vienna, a monthly difference of $125.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in Madison and 85 in Vienna. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Madison vs $404/month in Vienna. Vienna offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $912/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Madison and 98 in Vienna. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Madison vs $392 in Vienna. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 105 in Madison and 82 in Vienna. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 23-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $67,565 in Madison and $48,000 in Vienna. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $63,741 and $54,545 respectively. Madison residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,577/month to housing in Madison vs $1,120/month in Vienna. In Madison, median rent of $1,400/mo fits within this budget. In Vienna, median rent of $1,275/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 23 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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