City comparison
Madison, WI vs Ocala, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Prices in Madison, WI are 2.2% higher than in Ocala, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Ocala, FL would need about $102,200 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 $1,172 in Ocala, FL. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Madison, WI and 18% in Ocala, FL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,919 a year higher in Madison, WI than in Ocala, FL.
- 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 Ocala, FL changes real buying power by +2.2%, purely from prices.
- Madison, WI: price level 97.3 (cheaper)
- Ocala, FL: price level 95.2 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Madison, WI | Ocala, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.3 | 95.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,890 in Ocala | $102,156 in Madison |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,482/mo | $1,172/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,261 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,919 (WI) | $0 (FL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,080 | $43,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Madison, WI HUD Metro FMR Area and Ocala, FL MSA. Metro areas: Madison, WI and Ocala, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Madison | Ocala |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 99.7 | 86.2 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 89.8 | 87.1 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 97.3 | 95.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Madison, WI → Ocala, FL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.2%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$3,919/yr.
75 Strong offer
Ocala, FL → Madison, WI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.1%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$3,919/yr.
62 Fair offer
Federal employees: GS pay
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 Ocala, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Madison, WI | Ocala, FL | Real change, Madison → Ocala |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +2.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +2.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +2.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +2.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +2.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Madison, WI | Ocala, FL | Ocala pay in Madison dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $104,110 | not published | — |
| Software Developers | $130,630 | $112,780 | $115,211 (−11.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $81,130 | $74,370 | $75,973 (−6.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,190 | $79,230 | $80,938 (−20.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.