City comparison
Madison, WI vs Springfield, MO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Madison, WI are 9.8% higher than in Springfield, MO. Someone earning $100,000 in Springfield, MO would need about $109,800 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 $883 in Springfield, MO. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Madison, WI and 14% in Springfield, MO.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,919 a year in WI and $3,763 in MO.
- 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 Madison, WI to Springfield, MO changes real buying power by +9.8%, purely from prices.
- Madison, WI: price level 97.3 (cheaper)
- Springfield, MO: price level 88.6 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Madison, WI | Springfield, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.3 | 88.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $91,055 in Springfield | $109,823 in Madison |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,482/mo | $883/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,261 | $75,417 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,919 (WI) | $3,763 (MO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,080 | $45,780 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Madison, WI HUD Metro FMR Area and Springfield, MO HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Madison, WI and Springfield, MO.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Madison | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 99.7 | 65.6 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 94.2 |
| Utilities | 89.8 | 85.8 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 93.0 |
| Overall | 97.3 | 88.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Madison, WI → Springfield, MO
Same pay goes further
Buying power +9.8%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$157/yr.
99 Strong offer
Springfield, MO → Madison, WI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.9%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$157/yr.
41 Weak 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 Madison, WI to Springfield, MO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Madison, WI | Springfield, MO | Real change, Madison → Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +9.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +9.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +9.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +9.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +9.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Madison, WI | Springfield, MO | Springfield pay in Madison dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,690 | $49,380 | $54,231 (−14.9%) |
| Software Developers | $130,630 | $102,350 | $112,404 (−14.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $81,130 | $73,020 | $80,193 (−1.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,190 | $79,370 | $87,167 (−13.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.