Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY vs Madison, WI

Lexington-Fayette urban county is moderately more affordable than Madison, with a 14.8% lower cost of living index. Lexington-Fayette urban county scores 88 compared to 103 for Madison, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Madison can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Lexington-Fayette urban county is $1,101/month compared to $1,364/month in Madison — a 19% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Lexington-Fayette urban county is more affordable at $272,100 median vs $346,900.

Median household income in Lexington-Fayette urban county is $67,631 compared to $76,983 in Madison (-12.1%). The higher salaries in Madison partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Lexington-Fayette urban county spend roughly 19.5% of their income on rent, less than the 21.3% in Madison.