Madison, SD vs Berlin, WI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Berlin, WI has a modeled overall cost index 32.8% higher than Madison, SD.

Madison, SD · modeled 2BR rent
$960 / month
Berlin, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,020 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Madison, SD and Berlin, WI using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $2,152/month in Berlin, WI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $175,820 in Berlin, WI

Regional cost estimates: Madison, SD uses Omaha, NE. Berlin, WI uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 32.8%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$2,152
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$25.8K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Madison, SD

Population:6K
Cost Index:
69.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$255K

Berlin, WI

Population:6K
Cost Index:
92.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$234K

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Madison, SD

The Mount Rushmore State

6K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in South Dakota, this city has a population of 6K residents.

💡 Advantage: South Dakota has no state income tax!

Berlin, WI

The Badger State

6K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 6K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Madison, SD vs Berlin, WI

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↑ 50.6%
Madison, SD
$1,985
Berlin, WI
$2,990
Difference
$1,005
more
Other
↑ 27.0%
Madison, SD
$1,701
Berlin, WI
$2,161
Difference
$459
more
Transportation
↑ 30.3%
Madison, SD
$1,302
Berlin, WI
$1,697
Difference
$395
more
Healthcare
↑ 13.1%
Madison, SD
$815
Berlin, WI
$922
Difference
$107
more
Groceries
↑ 8.4%
Madison, SD
$1,135
Berlin, WI
$1,230
Difference
$95.55
more
All Utilities
↑ 16.0%
Madison, SD
$562
Berlin, WI
$652
Difference
$90.01
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$680
To$730
↑ $50.00
1 Bed
From$800
To$780
↓ $20.00
2 Bed
From$960
To$1,020
↑ $60.00
3 Bed
From$1,280
To$1,270
↓ $10.00
Madison, SDZIP-level data

1BR range: $800–$800/mo

Berlin, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $780–$780/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Madison, SD
$9,652
Monthly in Berlin, WI
$2,152
Difference

Home Values

Madison
Berlin
$255K
Median Value
$234K
↑ +6%
YoY Change
↑ +11%
↑ +56.8%
5-Year Change
↑ +55.3%

Homes in Berlin are 8% less expensive than Madison

Calculate payment - MadisonCalculate payment - Berlin

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $8.8K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$737
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
5.9%
Rate difference

Madison, SD

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
South Dakota State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Berlin, WI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Wisconsin State Tax
Effective: 5.9%
$8.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.6%
$45.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,678/month
$104.1K

Additional Tax Information

Madison, SD Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.4%
Property Tax:1.3%

Berlin, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Madison
Berlin
45 Good
Air Quality
42 Good
63.7%
Good Air Days
72.1%
96 High
Climate Risk
94 Moderate
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
35 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
35 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days

Before moving from Madison, SD to Berlin, WI

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Berlin, WI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Madison, SD. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Madison to Berlin moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Berlin, WI by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Madison, SD vs Berlin, WI

How do the cost estimates for Madison, SD and Berlin, WI compare?

Berlin, WI has a modeled overall cost index 32.8% higher than Madison, SD. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Madison, SD, the model estimates $175,820 in Berlin, WI. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Madison, SD and Berlin, WI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $960/month in Madison, SD and $1,020/month in Berlin, WI. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between South Dakota and Wisconsin on TaxTakeHome.com

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