City comparison
Ann Arbor, MI vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 7.9% higher than in Ann Arbor, MI. Someone earning $100,000 in Ann Arbor, MI would need about $107,900 in Washington, DC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,015 a month in Washington, DC versus $1,387 in Ann Arbor, MI. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 22% in Ann Arbor, MI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,532 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Ann Arbor, MI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +3.7% moving from Ann Arbor, MI to Washington, DC ($117,402 → $121,785), while prices change by +7.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.9% in real buying power.
- Ann Arbor, MI: price level 100.9 (about average)
- Washington, DC: price level 108.9 (much pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Ann Arbor, MI | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.9 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $107,934 in Washington | $92,649 in Ann Arbor |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,387/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,181 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,999 (MI) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $55,380 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Ann Arbor, MI MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Ann Arbor, MI and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Ann Arbor | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 125.3 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 98.2 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 100.9 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Ann Arbor, MI → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.4%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$1,532/yr.
34 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Ann Arbor, MI
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.9%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$1,532/yr.
94 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Ann Arbor, MI is in the Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Ann Arbor, MI to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Ann Arbor, MI | Washington, DC | Real change, Ann Arbor → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,081 | $70,623 | −3.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $82,372 | $85,447 | −3.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $98,729 | $102,415 | −3.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $117,402 | $121,785 | −3.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $138,734 | $143,913 | −3.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Ann Arbor, MI | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Ann Arbor dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,060 | $79,470 | $73,628 (+14.9%) |
| Software Developers | $126,830 | $154,930 | $143,541 (+13.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,040 | $102,140 | $94,632 (+18.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $103,450 | $102,710 | $95,160 (−8.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.