City comparison
Lincoln, NE vs Madison, WI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Madison, WI are 6.2% higher than in Lincoln, NE. Someone earning $100,000 in Lincoln, NE would need about $106,200 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 $926 in Lincoln, NE. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Madison, WI and 15% in Lincoln, NE.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,670 a year in NE and $3,919 in WI.
- 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 Lincoln, NE to Madison, WI changes real buying power by −5.9%, purely from prices.
- Lincoln, NE: price level 91.6 (much 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
| Lincoln, NE | Madison, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.6 | 97.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $106,231 in Madison | $94,135 in Lincoln |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $926/mo | $1,482/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,510 | $75,261 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,670 (NE) | $3,919 (WI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,800 | $58,080 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lincoln, NE HUD Metro FMR Area and Madison, WI HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Lincoln, NE and Madison, WI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lincoln | Madison |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.2 | 99.7 |
| Goods | 94.1 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 76.8 | 89.8 |
| Other services | 93.0 | 99.4 |
| Overall | 91.6 | 97.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lincoln, NE → Madison, WI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.9%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$249/yr.
50 Fair offer
Madison, WI → Lincoln, NE
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.2%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$249/yr.
88 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 Lincoln, NE to Madison, WI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lincoln, NE | Madison, WI | Real change, Lincoln → Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −5.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −5.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −5.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −5.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −5.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lincoln, NE | Madison, WI | Madison pay in Lincoln dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,940 | $63,690 | $59,955 (−3.2%) |
| Software Developers | $101,690 | $130,630 | $122,968 (+20.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $65,170 | $81,130 | $76,372 (+17.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,530 | $101,190 | $95,255 (+8.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.