$40K in Durham = $38,039 in Madison

Your $40K salary in Durham (COL 102) has the same purchasing power as $38,039 in Madison (COL 97). Madison is cheaper — your money goes 5% further there.

$40K in Durham, NC
$2,578/mo take-home
Rent: $1,750/mo (68% of take-home)
Difficult
$38,039/yr in Madison, WI
$2,350/mo take-home
Rent: $1,650/mo (70% of take-home)
Difficult

Budget breakdown — $40K in both cities

What $40K actually buys you in each city after taxes and core expenses.

Expense
Durham
$40K
Madison
$40K (same salary)
Monthly take-home$2,578$2,472
1BR rent$1,750$1,650
Groceries$372$384
Transport$82$62
Utilities$155$162
Internet$62$63
Left after essentials$157/month$151/month
To match your Durham purchasing power in Madison, you'd need to earn $38,039/year (5% less than $40K). At that salary, you'd have $29/mo left after essentials — vs $157/mo in Durham.

Frequently asked questions

What is $40K in Durham equivalent to in Madison?

$40K in Durham (COL index 102) has the same purchasing power as $38,039 in Madison (COL index 97). That's 5% less than your current salary.

If I move from Durham to Madison keeping my $40K salary, will I be better off?

Yes. If you keep earning $40K after moving to Madison, you'd have $-6 more per month after core expenses — because Madison is cheaper than Durham.

How is the salary equivalent calculated?

The equivalent salary is calculated by multiplying your current salary by the ratio of the two cities' overall cost of living indices: $40K × (97 ÷ 102) = $38,039. This adjusts for differences in housing, food, transport, and general cost of living.

Other salary amounts — Durham to Madison

$50K → $47,549$60K → $57,059$75K → $71,324$80K → $76,078$100K → $95,098$120K → $114,118$150K → $142,647
$40K in Madison → DurhamMoving from Durham to MadisonDurham vs Madison — full comparisonCan I afford Durham vs Madison on $40K?

Equivalency uses overall COL index ratio. Take-home uses simplified federal/state brackets. Zillow · BLS · Numbeo · Q1 2026 · For general guidance only