Madison, VA vs The Plains, VA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Madison is 19.2% cheaper than The Plains. With a cost index of 90 vs 112, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Madison to The Plains should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Madison is $986/month compared to $1,313/month in The Plains — a 25% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Madison is more affordable at $312,500 median vs $412,500.

Median household income in Madison is $47,059 compared to $94,375 in The Plains (-50.1%). While The Plains 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 25.1% of their income on rent, more than the 16.7% in The Plains.