📊 Lifestyle Match
Visualizing the tradeoffs between St. Louis and Madison
Head-to-Head Analysis
St. Louis vs Madison
Detailed breakdown of cost of living, income potential, and lifestyle metrics.
📋 The Details
Line-by-line data comparison.
| Category / Metric | St. Louis | Madison |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Overview | ||
| Median Income | $56,245 | $70,484 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3% | 3% |
| Housing Market | ||
| Median Home Price | $270,000 | $422,125 |
| Price per SqFt | $151 | $243 |
| Monthly Rent (1BR) | $972 | $1,182 |
| Housing Cost Index | 102.9 | 96.0 |
| Cost of Living | ||
| Groceries Index | 87.7 | 93.1 |
| Gas Price (Gallon) | $3.40 | $3.40 |
| Safety & Lifestyle | ||
| Violent Crime (per 100k) | 1927.0 | 345.0 |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 45% | 59% |
| Air Quality (AQI) | 44 | 32 |
AI Verdict: The Bottom Line
Both cities have a similar cost of living (within 5%).
Expect lower salaries in St. Louis (-20% vs Madison).
Rent is much more affordable in St. Louis (18% lower).
St. Louis has a higher violent crime rate (459% higher).
Analysis based on current data snapshot. Individual results may vary.
Expert Verdict
AI-generated analysis based on current data.
Moving from St. Louis to Madison: What You Need to Know
Deciding between St. Louis and Madison? This data-driven analysis breaks down the key differences in cost of living, housing, and quality of life to help you make the right choice.
1. Cost of Living Analysis
Both cities have a very similar cost of living. Your daily expenses in St. Louis will be roughly the same as in Madison.
2. Housing Costs
Real estate prices are comparable. You can expect to pay similar amounts for rent or a mortgage in both cities.
3. Income Potential
The median household income in St. Louis is $56,245, while in Madison it is $70,484.
Workers in Madison typically earn 20.2% more. Be sure to balance this against the cost of living.
4. Safety
Statistically, Madison has a lower violent crime rate.
The Verdict
Madison combines affordability with a strong quality of life score. It's an excellent choice for value seekers.
Real move decision
If this comparison is tied to a job offer, do these next
Madison is the cheaper city, so a smaller headline offer may still work if housing, taxes, and monthly costs improve your real take-home pay.
Decode an offer in Madison
Use Offer Decoder to test whether moving from St. Louis to Madison actually improves your leftover cash after tax, rent, and benefits.
Build your counteroffer
Use the counteroffer guide when the package is close, but city costs or first-year move friction mean you still need more.
Set a walk-away number
Turn the salary gap and cost-of-living difference between St. Louis and Madison into a defensible negotiation target.
Follow the relocation workflow
Use the full guide if this comparison is part of a real job move, not just casual browsing.
Planning a Move?
Use our AI-powered calculator to estimate your expenses from St. Louis to Madison.