CostIndexUSA

Huntington Beach, CA vs Madison, WI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Huntington Beach
113.6
overall index
$2,550/mo rent
More AffordableWI
Madison
97.3
overall index
$1,625/mo rent

Madison is moderately cheaper than Huntington Beach — 14.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Huntington Beach, you would need $68,500 in Madison. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing41.5%
Huntington Beach
170.4
Madison
99.7
🛒 Groceries12.0%
Huntington Beach
106.6
Madison
93.8
🚗 Transportation4.7%
Huntington Beach
109.6
Madison
104.4
🏥 Healthcare4.7%
Huntington Beach
99.1
Madison
94.4
Utilities43.4%
Huntington Beach
158.6
Madison
89.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Madison, WI
$68,500
$11,500 less needed in Madison

Formula: salary × (97.3 ÷ 113.6) = salary × 0.8565. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Huntington Beach, CA

Median Home Price
$565,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,550
Housing Index
170.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Madison, WI

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

Huntington Beach has 41.5% lower housing costs compared to Madison.

Income & Job Market

Huntington Beach, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
199,223
Top Industries
TourismTechnologyHealthcareRetailFinance

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).

Huntington Beach, CA
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.