Madison, MN vs Rice Lake, MN

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Madison is 25.5% cheaper than Rice Lake. With a cost index of 70 vs 94, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Madison to Rice Lake should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Madison is $920/month compared to $1,328/month in Rice Lake — a 31% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Madison is more affordable at $104,600 median vs $283,700.

Median household income in Madison is $56,435 compared to $95,347 in Rice Lake (-40.8%). While Rice Lake is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Madison spend roughly 19.6% of their income on rent, more than the 16.7% in Rice Lake.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (43°F vs 40.6°F). Rice Lake receives more rainfall at 31.2" per year compared to 22.7" in Madison.