City comparison
Madison, WI vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Madison, WI (97.3) and Wilmington, NC (96.4, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Madison, WI goes as far as $99,100 in Wilmington, NC.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,482 a month in Madison, WI and $1,513 in Wilmington, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $438 a year higher in Madison, WI than in Wilmington, NC.
- 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 Wilmington, NC changes real buying power by +0.9%, purely from prices.
- Madison, WI: price level 97.3 (cheaper)
- Wilmington, NC: price level 96.4 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Madison, WI | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.3 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,111 in Wilmington | $100,897 in Madison |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,482/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,261 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,919 (WI) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,080 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Madison, WI HUD Metro FMR Area and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Madison, WI and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Madison | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 99.7 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 89.8 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 97.3 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Madison, WI → Wilmington, NC
Roughly even
Buying power +0.9%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$438/yr.
72 Strong offer
Wilmington, NC → Madison, WI
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$438/yr.
66 Fair 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 Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Madison, WI | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Madison → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +0.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +0.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +0.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +0.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +0.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Madison, WI | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Madison dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,690 | $48,240 | $48,673 (−23.6%) |
| Software Developers | $130,630 | $123,730 | $124,840 (−4.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $81,130 | $77,920 | $78,619 (−3.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,190 | $80,970 | $81,696 (−19.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.