CostIndexUSA

Aurora, CO vs Madison, WI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Aurora
105.8
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
More AffordableWI
Madison
97.3
overall index
$1,625/mo rent

Madison is moderately cheaper than Aurora — 8.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Aurora, you would need $73,600 in Madison. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing32.1%
Aurora
146.9
Madison
99.7
🛒 Groceries7.1%
Aurora
101
Madison
93.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Aurora
104.4
Madison
104.4
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Aurora
94.5
Madison
94.4
Utilities+2.2%
Aurora
87.9
Madison
89.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Aurora to see what you'd need to earn in Madison to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Madison, WI
$73,600
$6,400 less needed in Madison

Formula: salary × (97.3 ÷ 105.8) = salary × 0.9197. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Aurora, CO

Median Home Price
$559,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
146.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.2×

Madison, WI

Median Home Price
$429,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,625
Housing Index
99.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.0×

Aurora has 32.1% lower housing costs compared to Madison.

Income & Job Market

Aurora, CO

Median Household Income
$103,100
Per Capita Income
$58,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
366,623
Top Industries
HealthcareAerospaceTechnologyGovernmentRetail

Madison, WI

Median Household Income
$82,100
Per Capita Income
$46,800
Unemployment Rate
2.2%
Population
269,186
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareGovernmentTechnologyFinance

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Aurora, CO
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Madison, WI
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.