Cold Spring, MN vs Madison, MN

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Madison is 29% cheaper than Cold Spring. With a cost index of 70 vs 90, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Madison to Cold Spring should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Cold Spring is $1,297/month compared to $920/month in Madison — a 41% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Madison is more affordable at $104,600 median vs $242,000.

Median household income in Cold Spring is $72,022 compared to $56,435 in Madison (+27.6%). The higher salaries in Cold Spring partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Cold Spring spend roughly 21.6% of their income on rent, more than the 19.6% in Madison.