City comparison
Harrisburg, PA vs Madison, WI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Harrisburg, PA are 1.4% higher than in Madison, WI. Someone earning $100,000 in Madison, WI would need about $101,400 in Harrisburg, PA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,482 a month in Madison, WI versus $1,212 in Harrisburg, PA. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Madison, WI and 19% in Harrisburg, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $849 a year higher in Madison, WI than in Harrisburg, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.0% moving from Harrisburg, PA to Madison, WI ($108,592 → $106,437), while prices change by −1.4%. Net effect of the transfer: −0.6% in real buying power.
- Harrisburg, PA: price level 98.7 (about average)
- 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
| Harrisburg, PA | Madison, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.7 | 97.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,618 in Madison | $101,401 in Harrisburg |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,212/mo | $1,482/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $75,261 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $3,919 (WI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,610 | $58,080 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA MSA and Madison, WI HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA and Madison, WI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Harrisburg | Madison |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 96.3 | 99.7 |
| Goods | 100.7 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 108.1 | 89.8 |
| Other services | 97.7 | 99.4 |
| Overall | 98.7 | 97.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Harrisburg, PA → Madison, WI
Roughly even
Buying power +1.4%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$849/yr.
73 Strong offer
Madison, WI → Harrisburg, PA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.4%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$849/yr.
64 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Harrisburg, PA is in the Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA pay area; Madison, WI is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Harrisburg, PA to Madison, WI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Harrisburg, PA | Madison, WI | Real change, Harrisburg → Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,972 | $61,722 | −0.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,190 | $74,678 | −0.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,320 | $89,508 | −0.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,592 | $106,437 | −0.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $128,323 | $125,776 | −0.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Harrisburg, PA | Madison, WI | Madison pay in Harrisburg dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $77,160 | $63,690 | $64,582 (−16.3%) |
| Software Developers | $109,470 | $130,630 | $132,460 (+21.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,510 | $81,130 | $82,267 (+7.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,770 | $101,190 | $102,608 (+6.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.