CostIndexUSA

Green Bay, WI vs Madison, WI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableWI
Green Bay
93.1
overall index
$1,000/mo rent
WI
Madison
97.3
overall index
$1,625/mo rent

Green Bay is slightly cheaper than Madison — 4.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Green Bay, you would need $83,600 in Madison. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+33.5%
Green Bay
74.7
Madison
99.7
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Green Bay
93.8
Madison
93.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Green Bay
104.4
Madison
104.4
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Green Bay
94.4
Madison
94.4
Utilities≈ Equal
Green Bay
90
Madison
89.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Madison, WI
$83,600
$3,600 more needed in Madison

Formula: salary × (97.3 ÷ 93.1) = salary × 1.0451. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Green Bay, WI

Median Home Price
$326,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,000
Housing Index
74.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
27.2×

Madison, WI

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

Madison has 33.5% higher housing costs compared to Green Bay.

Income & Job Market

Green Bay, WI

Median Household Income
$76,200
Per Capita Income
$43,400
Unemployment Rate
2.1%
Population
107,395
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareTourismFinanceRetail

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).

Green Bay, WI
6.3×income-to-rent ratio

84% 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.