$360,000 buys the median home in Madison right now. With 20% down, that's a $72,000 down payment and a $288,000 loan, set against a $72,000 median household income.
Factor in $606/month for property tax in Madison, based on the area's 2.02% effective rate applied to the median home price. That's $7,272 annually.
Between the $2,632/month mortgage payment and Wisconsin's state income tax, your real housing cost calculation needs your after-tax number, not your gross salary.
Beyond housing, Madison's cost of living index sits at 100 (national average = 100), running at the national baseline for groceries, transportation, and everyday services.
Madison's median home price runs 60% higher than nearby Milwaukee: $225,000 there versus $360,000 here.