City comparison
No. Chula Vista's crime index is 87 versus 91 in Madison, and its violent crime index is 107 versus 68, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $2,229 in Chula Vista.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Madison and Chula Vista. Madison averages 48°F while Chula Vista averages 70°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,413 versus $2,229.
Chula Vista is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Madison makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Chula Vista is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Madison at $1,413 average has pockets that run $1,213 and others at $1,813: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Madison and Chula Vista are 1,663 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $2,229 a month in Chula Vista, up $816 a month (58%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $108,032 in Chula Vista, up $29,982 (38%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 87 in Chula Vista, down 4 points (4%).
The move
Chula Vista and Madison are 1,663 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,229 a month in Chula Vista to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $816 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $108,032 in Chula Vista to $78,050 in Madison, down $29,982 (28%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Chula Vista to 91 in Madison, up 4 points (5%).
Madison, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Chula Vista, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Madison and Chula Vista? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
37% cheaper
Madison rent is 37% cheaper than Chula Vista
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Chula Vista
$2,229/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $2,229 in Chula Vista, so Madison is 37% cheaper. That's roughly $816/month back in your pocket ($9,792/year). Over five years that's $48,960 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Chula Vista, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Madison is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Chula Vista? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
38% higher
Chula Vista's median income is 38% higher than Madison
Madison
$78,050
Chula Vista
Winner$108,032
Median household income is $108,032 in Chula Vista versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 38% higher in Chula Vista (about $29,982 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Chula Vista is the stronger labor market on paper. Madison can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
4% lower crime
Chula Vista's crime index is 4% lower than Madison
Madison
91 (100 = avg)
Chula Vista
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Chula Vista's crime index is 87 versus 91 in Madison (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 4% lower in Chula Vista. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Chula Vista, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Madison. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
92% more comfortable
Chula Vista weather is 92% more comfortable than Madison
Madison
48°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 52/100
Chula Vista
Winner70°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison averages about 48°F (57°F highs); Chula Vista averages about 70°F (76°F highs). Madison averages around 48°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Chula Vista sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Chula Vista scores 92% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Madison if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Madison
Madison is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 37% cheaper here at about $1,413 a month. Choose Madison if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 38% higher ($108,032), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 70°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Chula Vista is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 4% lower than Madison (87 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Chula Vista runs $2,229/month while Madison sits at $1,413 — roughly 37% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Chula Vista-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Madison rent at $1,413/month is still below Chula Vista's $2,229, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $108,032 in Chula Vista versus $78,050 in Madison.
Madison is the default on housing cost at $1,413/month versus $2,229 in Chula Vista; Chula Vista stays in play when $108,032 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $816 lease gap.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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