CostIndexUSA

Atlantic City, NJ vs Madison, WI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NJ
Atlantic City
98.9
overall index
$2,225/mo rent
More AffordableWI
Madison
97.3
overall index
$1,625/mo rent

Madison is slightly cheaper than Atlantic City — 1.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Atlantic City, you would need $78,700 in Madison. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+1.0%
Atlantic City
98.7
Madison
99.7
🛒 Groceries6.0%
Atlantic City
99.8
Madison
93.8
🚗 Transportation+1.6%
Atlantic City
102.8
Madison
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+1.5%
Atlantic City
93
Madison
94.4
Utilities17.8%
Atlantic City
109.2
Madison
89.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Atlantic City to see what you'd need to earn in Madison to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Madison, WI
$78,700
$1,300 less needed in Madison

Formula: salary × (97.3 ÷ 98.9) = salary × 0.9838. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Atlantic City, NJ

Median Home Price
$369,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,225
Housing Index
98.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.8×

Madison, WI

Median Home Price
$429,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,625
Housing Index
99.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.0×

Madison has 1.0% higher housing costs compared to Atlantic City.

Income & Job Market

Atlantic City, NJ

Median Household Income
$80,100
Per Capita Income
$45,700
Unemployment Rate
6%
Population
38,497
Top Industries
GamingTourismHealthcareHospitalityRetail

Madison, WI

Median Household Income
$82,100
Per Capita Income
$46,800
Unemployment Rate
2.2%
Population
269,186
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareGovernmentTechnologyFinance

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Atlantic City, NJ
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Madison, WI
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.