City comparison
Charlotte, NC vs Madison, WI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Charlotte, NC (97.3) and Madison, WI (97.3, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Charlotte, NC goes as far as $99,900 in Madison, WI.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,538 a month in Charlotte, NC and $1,482 in Madison, WI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $438 a year higher in Madison, WI than in Charlotte, NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.2% moving from Charlotte, NC to Madison, WI ($108,810 → $106,437), while prices change by −0.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.1% in real buying power.
- Charlotte, NC: price level 97.3 (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
| Charlotte, NC | Madison, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.3 | 97.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,937 in Madison | $100,063 in Charlotte |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,538/mo | $1,482/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $75,261 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $3,919 (WI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,990 | $58,080 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Madison, WI HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC and Madison, WI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charlotte | Madison |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 97.6 | 99.7 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 89.8 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 99.4 |
| Overall | 97.3 | 97.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charlotte, NC → Madison, WI
Roughly even
Buying power +0.1%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$438/yr.
69 Fair offer
Madison, WI → Charlotte, NC
Roughly even
Buying power −0.1%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$438/yr.
69 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Charlotte, NC is in the Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC pay area; Madison, WI is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Charlotte, NC to Madison, WI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charlotte, NC | Madison, WI | Real change, Charlotte → Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,098 | $61,722 | −2.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,343 | $74,678 | −2.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,503 | $89,508 | −2.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,810 | $106,437 | −2.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $128,581 | $125,776 | −2.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charlotte, NC | Madison, WI | Madison pay in Charlotte dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $58,680 | $63,690 | $63,730 (+8.6%) |
| Software Developers | $135,920 | $130,630 | $130,712 (−3.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $92,910 | $81,130 | $81,181 (−12.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $90,620 | $101,190 | $101,253 (+11.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.