City comparison
Baltimore, MD vs Madison, WI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Baltimore, MD are 7.4% higher than in Madison, WI. Someone earning $100,000 in Madison, WI would need about $107,400 in Baltimore, MD to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,511 a month in Baltimore, MD and $1,482 in Madison, WI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $467 a year higher in Baltimore, MD than in Madison, WI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −12.6% moving from Baltimore, MD to Madison, WI ($121,785 → $106,437), while prices change by −6.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.1% in real buying power.
- Baltimore, MD: price level 104.5 (pricier)
- 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
| Baltimore, MD | Madison, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 104.5 | 97.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $93,109 in Madison | $107,401 in Baltimore |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,511/mo | $1,482/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,794 | $75,261 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,386 (MD) | $3,919 (WI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $59,070 | $58,080 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA and Madison, WI HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD and Madison, WI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Baltimore | Madison |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 118.2 | 99.7 |
| Goods | 102.4 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 110.2 | 89.8 |
| Other services | 101.5 | 99.4 |
| Overall | 104.5 | 97.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Baltimore, MD → Madison, WI
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.4%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$467/yr.
92 Strong offer
Madison, WI → Baltimore, MD
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.9%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$467/yr.
47 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Baltimore, MD is in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA pay area; Madison, WI is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Baltimore, MD to Madison, WI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Baltimore, MD | Madison, WI | Real change, Baltimore → Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,623 | $61,722 | −6.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,447 | $74,678 | −6.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,415 | $89,508 | −6.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,785 | $106,437 | −6.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,913 | $125,776 | −6.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Baltimore, MD | Madison, WI | Madison pay in Baltimore dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,400 | $63,690 | $68,404 (−10.5%) |
| Software Developers | $138,900 | $130,630 | $140,298 (+1.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,160 | $81,130 | $87,134 (+2.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,550 | $101,190 | $108,679 (+9.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.