City comparison
Austin, TX vs Madison, WI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Austin, TX (98.1) and Madison, WI (97.3, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Austin, TX goes as far as $99,200 in Madison, WI.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,562 a month in Austin, TX versus $1,482 in Madison, WI. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Austin, TX and 24% in Madison, WI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,919 a year higher in Madison, WI than in Austin, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.7% moving from Austin, TX to Madison, WI ($109,428 → $106,437), while prices change by −0.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.0% in real buying power.
- Austin, TX: price level 98.1 (about average)
- 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
| Austin, TX | Madison, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.1 | 97.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,206 in Madison | $100,801 in Austin |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,562/mo | $1,482/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,261 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $3,919 (WI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $56,950 | $58,080 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX MSA and Madison, WI HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX and Madison, WI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Austin | Madison |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 120.4 | 99.7 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 82.0 | 89.8 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 99.4 |
| Overall | 98.1 | 97.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Austin, TX → Madison, WI
Roughly even
Buying power +0.8%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$3,919/yr.
71 Strong offer
Madison, WI → Austin, TX
Roughly even
Buying power −0.8%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$3,919/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Austin, TX is in the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX pay area; Madison, WI is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Austin, TX to Madison, WI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Austin, TX | Madison, WI | Real change, Austin → Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,457 | $61,722 | −2.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,777 | $74,678 | −2.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,023 | $89,508 | −2.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,428 | $106,437 | −2.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,311 | $125,776 | −2.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Austin, TX | Madison, WI | Madison pay in Austin dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,270 | $63,690 | $64,200 (+4.8%) |
| Software Developers | $134,120 | $130,630 | $131,676 (−1.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,120 | $81,130 | $81,780 (−1.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,890 | $101,190 | $102,000 (+4.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.