Studio Apartment Rent in Madison, WI
Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Madison, Wisconsin as of August 2026. That's +30% lower than the citywide median of $1,621 and +12% below the national studio median of $1,290.
Income needed for a studio in Madison
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a studio at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in Madison
Compare Madison's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a studio in Wisconsin
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stevens Point | $680 |
| 2 | Marshfield | $690 |
| 3 | Manitowoc | $710 |
| 4 | Two Rivers | $710 |
| 5 | Wisconsin Rapids | $715 |
| 6 | Superior | $720 |
| 7 | Wausau | $725 |
| 8 | Appleton | $733 |
| 9 | Brown Deer | $734 |
| 10 | Oshkosh | $740 |
| 11 | Tomah | $740 |
| 12 | Beaver Dam | $750 |
| 13 | Fond du Lac | $760 |
| 14 | Mount Pleasant | $760 |
| 15 | Plover | $760 |
Most expensive cities for a studio in Wisconsin
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monona | $1,565 |
| 2 | Glendale | $1,411 |
| 3 | Brookfield | $1,410 |
| 4 | Hudson | $1,250 |
| 5 | Verona | $1,220 |
| 6 | Elm Grove | $1,210 |
| 7 | Fitchburg | $1,208 |
| 8 | Oak Creek | $1,200 |
| 9 | Greenfield | $1,147 |
| 10 | Madison (this page) | $1,141 |
| 11 | Shorewood | $1,140 |
| 12 | Menomonee Falls | $1,140 |
| 13 | Franklin | $1,130 |
| 14 | Kenosha | $1,123 |
| 15 | Germantown | $1,100 |
Nearby cities — studio rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Madison.
| City | Distance | Studio rent | vs Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monona, WI | 3.5 mi | $1,565 | +$424 (+37%) |
| Fitchburg, WI | 5.5 mi | $1,208 | +$67 (+6%) |
| Middleton, WI | 11.4 mi | $1,090 | $-51 (-4%) |
| De Forest, WI | 13 mi | $1,050 | $-91 (-8%) |
| Verona, WI | 14.7 mi | $1,220 | +$79 (+7%) |
| Sun Prairie, WI | 15.2 mi | $1,080 | $-61 (-5%) |
| Janesville, WI | 32.4 mi | $820 | $-321 (-28%) |
| Baraboo, WI | 37.6 mi | $820 | $-321 (-28%) |
| Beloit, WI | 40.9 mi | $800 | $-341 (-30%) |
| Beaver Dam, WI | 44.9 mi | $750 | $-391 (-34%) |
| Rockford, IL | 57.9 mi | $778 | $-363 (-32%) |
| Oconomowoc, WI | 61.8 mi | $1,030 | $-111 (-10%) |
Studio rent in Madison — common questions
How much is a studio apartment in Madison?
As of August 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Madison, Wisconsin is $1,141 per month. This is +30% below the citywide median of $1,621.
What income do you need to afford a studio in Madison?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $45,640 ($3,803/month gross), which works out to roughly $21.94/hour at a full-time job.
Is Madison expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?
Madison's studio median of $1,141 is +12% below the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 39th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Madison rank for studio rent in Wisconsin?
Among the 59 cities in Wisconsin with studio data, Madison ranks #50 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper studio options near Madison?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include Middleton ($1,090), De Forest ($1,050), Sun Prairie ($1,080).