Uprootmap
Phoenix vs Madison
Phoenix and Madison
Photo: Dori / Wikimedia, CC BY 2.5
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Madison are under the US rate in this release, 2.1 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Phoenix to Madison
In 2022-2023, 160 households filed a move from Phoenix to Madison (about 211 people, average adjusted gross income $72,731). 174 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,277 in Phoenix and $1,330 in Madison. Phoenix has a state tax on wages. Madison has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Madison is 100% of the national level for the same work, against 97% in Phoenix.
Madison averages 188 sunny days, with July highs around 82°F and January nights around 12°F. Phoenix is 299 sunny days, 106°F in July, 46°F in January. Commutes average 21 minutes in Madison and 26 in Phoenix.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 160 households moved Phoenix → Madison (about 211 people, average AGI $72,731). 174 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Phoenix and Madison changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 1,672 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $3,450–$6,450
- Container or pod
- $2,450–$4,600
- Rent a truck
- $1,450–$2,750
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Dig into Madison
Questions
Is Madison cheaper than Phoenix after tax and rent?
No. Madison leaves about $81 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,277 in Phoenix and $1,330 in Madison.
Does Madison have state income tax?
Madison is in Wisconsin, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Phoenix to Madison?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.