City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 106 in San Diego, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 114, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $2,313 in San Diego.
Climate is the sharpest divide between San Diego and Madison. San Diego averages 74°F while Madison averages 52°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $2,313 versus $1,413.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Madison costs less and San Diego pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
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
San Diego and Madison are 1,664 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,313 a month in San Diego to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $900 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $108,077 in San Diego to $78,050 in Madison, down $30,027 (28%).
The crime index goes from 106 in San Diego to 91 in Madison, down 15 points (14%).
The move
Madison and San Diego are 1,664 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $2,313 a month in San Diego, up $900 a month (64%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $108,077 in San Diego, up $30,027 (38%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 106 in San Diego, up 15 points (16%).
San Diego, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Madison, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Diego and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
39% cheaper
Madison rent is 39% cheaper than San Diego
San Diego
$2,313/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $2,313 in San Diego, so Madison is 39% cheaper. That's roughly $900/month back in your pocket ($10,800/year). Over five years that's $54,000 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 San Diego, 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 Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
38% higher
San Diego's median income is 38% higher than Madison
San Diego
Winner$108,077
Madison
$78,050
Median household income is $108,077 in San Diego versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 38% higher in San Diego (about $30,027 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, San Diego 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
14% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 14% lower than San Diego
San Diego
106 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 106 in San Diego (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 14% lower in Madison. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Madison, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in San Diego. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
56% more comfortable
San Diego weather is 56% more comfortable than Madison
San Diego
Winner74°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison
52°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 64/100
San Diego averages about 74°F (78°F highs); Madison averages about 52°F (62°F highs). San Diego sits near 74°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Madison averages around 52°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. San Diego scores 56% 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
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 ($108,077), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 74°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Madison is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 39% 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.
Madison is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 14% lower than San Diego (91 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
On rent alone, Madison undercuts San Diego by $900/month ($1,413 vs $2,313). I would not pick San Diego on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Madison rent at $1,413/month is still below San Diego's $2,313, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $108,077 in San Diego versus $78,050 in Madison.
Between San Diego and Madison, Madison is ahead on housing cost — $1,413/month rent against $2,313. Lean San Diego instead when your $108,077 income offer in San Diego outweighs saving $900/month in Madison.
Common questions
Ready to move to Madison?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Madison when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Diego and Madison, plus other cities in CA and WI.
