City comparison
Colorado Springs, CO vs Madison, WI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Colorado Springs, CO are 3.5% higher than in Madison, WI. Someone earning $100,000 in Madison, WI would need about $103,500 in Colorado Springs, CO to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,464 a month in Colorado Springs, CO and $1,482 in Madison, WI.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,692 a year in CO and $3,919 in WI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.6% moving from Colorado Springs, CO to Madison, WI ($109,246 → $106,437), while prices change by −3.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.9% in real buying power.
- Colorado Springs, CO: price level 100.7 (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
| Colorado Springs, CO | Madison, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.7 | 97.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,604 in Madison | $103,515 in Colorado Springs |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,464/mo | $1,482/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,488 | $75,261 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,692 (CO) | $3,919 (WI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $52,710 | $58,080 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Colorado Springs, CO | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Colorado Springs, CO HUD Metro FMR Area and Madison, WI HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Colorado Springs, CO and Madison, WI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Colorado Springs | Madison |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 116.2 | 99.7 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 83.2 | 89.8 |
| Other services | 99.8 | 99.4 |
| Overall | 100.7 | 97.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Colorado Springs, CO → Madison, WI
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.5%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$228/yr.
80 Strong offer
Madison, WI → Colorado Springs, CO
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.4%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$228/yr.
58 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Colorado Springs, CO is in the Colorado Springs, CO pay area; Madison, WI is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Colorado Springs, CO to Madison, WI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Colorado Springs, CO | Madison, WI | Real change, Colorado Springs → Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,351 | $61,722 | +0.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,650 | $74,678 | +0.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,870 | $89,508 | +0.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,246 | $106,437 | +0.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,096 | $125,776 | +0.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Colorado Springs, CO | Madison, WI | Madison pay in Colorado Springs dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,140 | $63,690 | $65,929 (+7.8%) |
| Software Developers | $134,280 | $130,630 | $135,222 (+0.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,000 | $81,130 | $83,982 (−1.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,140 | $101,190 | $104,747 (+9.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.