CostIndexUSA

Madison, WI vs Syracuse, NY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WI
Madison
97.3
overall index
$1,625/mo rent
More AffordableNY
Syracuse
95.7
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

Syracuse is slightly cheaper than Madison — 1.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Madison, you would need $78,700 in Syracuse. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing19.1%
Madison
99.7
Syracuse
80.7
🛒 Groceries+6.3%
Madison
93.8
Syracuse
99.7
🚗 Transportation1.7%
Madison
104.4
Syracuse
102.6
🏥 Healthcare1.6%
Madison
94.4
Syracuse
92.9
Utilities+48.6%
Madison
89.8
Syracuse
133.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Syracuse, NY
$78,700
$1,300 less needed in Syracuse

Formula: salary × (95.7 ÷ 97.3) = salary × 0.9836. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Madison, WI

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

Syracuse, NY

Median Home Price
$245,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,575
Housing Index
80.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.0×

Madison has 19.1% lower housing costs compared to Syracuse.

Income & Job Market

Madison, WI

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

Syracuse, NY

Median Household Income
$73,300
Per Capita Income
$41,800
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
148,458
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingFinanceGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

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

Madison, WI
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Syracuse, NY
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.