Indianapolis, IN vs. Madison, WI
Median rent is $1,112 a month in Indianapolis, IN and $1,364 in Madison, WI. Household income is $62,995 against $76,983. Both cities are read from the same ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates and the same BEA Regional Price Parities 2023, so the two columns below are directly comparable.
A green or red badge means the second city is higher or lower, not better or worse: a lower rent is good for a tenant, a lower household income is not. For the price level and
the share of income the raw values are shown, because a percentage difference between two
percentages is easy to misread.
What the gap means
Occupation wages in both metros
May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Metropolitan areas may differ from city boundaries.
| Occupation | Indianapolis, IN median | Madison, WI median | vs. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,040 | $29,820 | +2.7% |
| Retail Salespersons | $31,530 | $35,830 | +13.6% |
| Registered Nurses | $84,230 | $101,190 | +20.1% |
| Customer Service Representatives | $43,460 | $47,500 | +9.3% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $61,980 | $59,700 | -3.7% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $36,850 | $39,680 | +7.7% |
| General and Operations Managers | $120,480 | $126,620 | +5.1% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,050 | $30,910 | +6.4% |
Metropolitan areas and cover every industry together, so the two columns may describe wider areas than the city limits used for rent and income.
Indianapolis, IN vs Madison, WI: frequently asked questions
Is Madison, WI more expensive than Indianapolis, IN?
Yes. Prices in Madison, WI are about 1.3% higher than in Indianapolis, IN: a regional price level of 95.8 against 94.6, where the U.S. average is 100.
How much do I need to earn in Madison, WI to keep a $100,000 lifestyle from Indianapolis, IN?
About $101,300. Adjusting $100,000 by the BEA regional price levels of the two areas (94.6 in Indianapolis, IN, 95.8 in Madison, WI) gives the salary with the same purchasing power. Taxes and personal spending habits are not included.
Is rent cheaper in Indianapolis, IN or Madison, WI?
The median gross rent is $1,112 a month in Indianapolis, IN and $1,364 in Madison, WI, a difference of $252 a month or $3,024 a year.
Where are household incomes higher, Indianapolis, IN or Madison, WI?
The median household income is $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN and $76,983 in Madison, WI. Rent takes 21.2% of the median income in Indianapolis, IN and 21.3% in Madison, WI.
What salary do I need to afford the median rent in Madison, WI?
About $54,600 a year, the gross income that keeps the median rent of $1,364 a month at 30% of income. The same rule gives $44,500 in Indianapolis, IN.
More comparisons with Indianapolis, IN
More comparisons with Madison, WI
Definitions used on this page
- Salary needed for the median rent
- Twelve months of median gross rent divided by 0.30: the income that keeps the median rent at 30% of gross pay.
- Price level
- BEA regional price parity for the metro area where one is published, otherwise for the state. The national average is 100.
- Same standard of living
- A salary in Indianapolis, IN converted into Madison, WI at the ratio of the two price levels. It adjusts for prices only, not for taxes or for what either city offers.
- Buying power
- One hundred divided by the price level: what a dollar buys locally relative to the national average.
Sources
- Census Bureau — ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates
- Census Bureau — ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates
- BEA — BEA Regional Price Parities 2023
Margins of error are published for every Census figure. Read the methodology before reading a small gap between two cities as a real difference.
Full detail for each city: Indianapolis, IN · Madison, WI