Question 1

Is Madison or Toledo cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Toledo, OH is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $498/month less than in Madison, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,694/mo in Madison versus $1,076/mo in Toledo.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Madison vs Toledo?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $73,500/year before tax in Madison, WI and $63,000/year in Toledo, OH — a difference of about $10,500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Madison or Toledo cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Toledo, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $9,882/month in Madison and $8,754/month in Toledo, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Madison or Toledo?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Toledo costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Madison73	Toledo60
Est. monthly cost (single)	$3,982	$3,484
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$9,882	$8,754
Salary for comfort	$73,500/yr	$63,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,694	$1,076
Median home value	$346,900	$107,000
Median household income	$76,983	$47,532
Unemployment	3.0%	4.9%
Housing score	54	79
Jobs score	84	34
Safety score	83	27
Climate score	65	82
Amenities score	50	41
Population	275.6K	268.5K
Summer high / winter low	82° / 11°	84° / 19°

Madison, WI vs Toledo, OH