City comparison
Madison, WI vs Portland, ME
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Portland, ME are 4.7% higher than in Madison, WI. Someone earning $100,000 in Madison, WI would need about $104,700 in Portland, ME to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,658 a month in Portland, ME versus $1,482 in Madison, WI. On $100,000, that's 27% of take-home pay in Portland, ME and 24% in Madison, WI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,735 a year higher in Portland, ME than in Madison, WI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +13.3% moving from Madison, WI to Portland, ME ($106,437 → $120,548), while prices change by +4.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +8.2% in real buying power.
- Madison, WI: price level 97.3 (cheaper)
- Portland, ME: price level 101.9 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Madison, WI | Portland, ME | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.3 | 101.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,698 in Portland | $95,512 in Madison |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,482/mo | $1,658/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,261 | $73,526 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,919 (WI) | $5,654 (ME) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 27% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,080 | $56,960 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Madison, WI HUD Metro FMR Area and Portland, ME HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Madison, WI and Portland-South Portland, ME.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Madison | Portland |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 99.7 | 105.2 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 97.2 |
| Utilities | 89.8 | 134.6 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 103.2 |
| Overall | 97.3 | 101.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Madison, WI → Portland, ME
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.5%; rent takes 27% of take-home; state tax +$1,735/yr.
52 Fair offer
Portland, ME → Madison, WI
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.7%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$1,735/yr.
83 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Madison, WI is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Portland, ME is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Madison, WI to Portland, ME at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Madison, WI | Portland, ME | Real change, Madison → Portland |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,905 | +8.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $84,579 | +8.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $101,375 | +8.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $120,548 | +8.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $142,452 | +8.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Madison, WI | Portland, ME | Portland pay in Madison dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,690 | $76,770 | $73,325 (+15.1%) |
| Software Developers | $130,630 | $128,710 | $122,934 (−5.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $81,130 | $79,790 | $76,209 (−6.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,190 | $88,470 | $84,500 (−16.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.