City comparison
Indianapolis, IN vs Madison, WI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Madison, WI are 1.7% higher than in Indianapolis, IN. Someone earning $100,000 in Indianapolis, IN would need about $101,700 in Madison, WI to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,482 a month in Madison, WI versus $1,267 in Indianapolis, IN. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Madison, WI and 20% in Indianapolis, IN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $999 a year higher in Madison, WI than in Indianapolis, IN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.9% moving from Indianapolis, IN to Madison, WI ($107,428 → $106,437), while prices change by +1.7%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.5% in real buying power.
- Indianapolis, IN: price level 95.7 (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
| Indianapolis, IN | Madison, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.7 | 97.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,663 in Madison | $98,365 in Indianapolis |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,267/mo | $1,482/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,260 | $75,261 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,921 (IN) | $3,919 (WI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,340 | $58,080 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Indianapolis-Carmel, IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Madison, WI HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN and Madison, WI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Indianapolis | Madison |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 88.9 | 99.7 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 86.4 | 89.8 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 99.4 |
| Overall | 95.7 | 97.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Indianapolis, IN → Madison, WI
Roughly even
Buying power −1.6%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$999/yr.
64 Fair offer
Madison, WI → Indianapolis, IN
Roughly even
Buying power +1.7%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$999/yr.
74 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Indianapolis, IN is in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN pay area; Madison, WI is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Indianapolis, IN to Madison, WI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Indianapolis, IN | Madison, WI | Real change, Indianapolis → Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,297 | $61,722 | −2.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,374 | $74,678 | −2.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,341 | $89,508 | −2.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,428 | $106,437 | −2.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,947 | $125,776 | −2.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Indianapolis, IN | Madison, WI | Madison pay in Indianapolis dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,510 | $63,690 | $62,648 (+3.5%) |
| Software Developers | $106,870 | $130,630 | $128,494 (+20.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,290 | $81,130 | $79,803 (+0.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,230 | $101,190 | $99,535 (+18.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.