City comparison
Asheville, NC vs Madison, WI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Asheville, NC (96.5) and Madison, WI (97.3, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Asheville, NC goes as far as $100,800 in Madison, WI.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,429 a month in Asheville, NC and $1,482 in Madison, WI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $438 a year higher in Madison, WI than in Asheville, NC.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Asheville, NC to Madison, WI changes real buying power by −0.8%, purely from prices.
- Asheville, NC: price level 96.5 (cheaper)
- Madison, WI: price level 97.3 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Asheville, NC | Madison, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.5 | 97.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,809 in Madison | $99,197 in Asheville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,429/mo | $1,482/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $75,261 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $3,919 (WI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,870 | $58,080 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Asheville, NC MSA and Madison, WI HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Asheville, NC and Madison, WI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Asheville | Madison |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 93.4 | 99.7 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 88.6 | 89.8 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 99.4 |
| Overall | 96.5 | 97.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Asheville, NC → Madison, WI
Roughly even
Buying power −0.8%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$438/yr.
66 Fair offer
Madison, WI → Asheville, NC
Roughly even
Buying power +0.8%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$438/yr.
71 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Asheville, NC to Madison, WI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Asheville, NC | Madison, WI | Real change, Asheville → Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −0.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −0.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −0.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −0.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −0.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Asheville, NC | Madison, WI | Madison pay in Asheville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,080 | $63,690 | $63,179 (+26.2%) |
| Software Developers | $134,350 | $130,630 | $129,581 (−3.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,400 | $81,130 | $80,479 (+0.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,590 | $101,190 | $100,378 (+23.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.