City comparison
Madison, WI vs Olympia, WA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Olympia, WA are 6.6% higher than in Madison, WI. Someone earning $100,000 in Madison, WI would need about $106,600 in Olympia, WA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,682 a month in Olympia, WA versus $1,482 in Madison, WI. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Olympia, WA and 24% in Madison, WI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,919 a year higher in Madison, WI than in Olympia, WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +12.4% moving from Madison, WI to Olympia, WA ($106,437 → $119,630), while prices change by +6.6%. Net effect of the transfer: +5.5% in real buying power.
- Madison, WI: price level 97.3 (cheaper)
- Olympia, WA: price level 103.7 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Madison, WI | Olympia, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.3 | 103.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $106,561 in Olympia | $93,843 in Madison |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,482/mo | $1,682/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,261 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,919 (WI) | $0 (WA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,080 | $61,960 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Seattle-Tacoma, WA |
Rent areas: Madison, WI HUD Metro FMR Area and Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA MSA. Metro areas: Madison, WI and Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Madison | Olympia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 99.7 | 116.7 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 105.0 |
| Utilities | 89.8 | 91.7 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 99.5 |
| Overall | 97.3 | 103.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Madison, WI → Olympia, WA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.2%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$3,919/yr.
49 Fair offer
Olympia, WA → Madison, WI
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.6%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$3,919/yr.
89 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Madison, WI is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Olympia, WA is in Seattle-Tacoma, WA. The last column shows what a transfer from Madison, WI to Olympia, WA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Madison, WI | Olympia, WA | Real change, Madison → Olympia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,373 | +5.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $83,935 | +5.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $100,602 | +5.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $119,630 | +5.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $141,367 | +5.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Madison, WI | Olympia, WA | Olympia pay in Madison dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,690 | $104,650 | $98,207 (+54.2%) |
| Software Developers | $130,630 | $124,060 | $116,422 (−10.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $81,130 | $94,470 | $88,653 (+9.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,190 | $125,020 | $117,322 (+15.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.