City comparison
Atlantic City, NJ vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 10.1% higher than in Atlantic City, NJ. Someone earning $100,000 in Atlantic City, NJ would need about $110,100 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 $1,537 in Atlantic City, NJ. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 25% in Atlantic City, NJ.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,351 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Atlantic City, NJ.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +3.8% moving from Atlantic City, NJ to Washington, DC ($117,284 → $121,785), while prices change by +10.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −5.7% in real buying power.
- Atlantic City, NJ: price level 98.9 (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
| Atlantic City, NJ | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.9 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $110,143 in Washington | $90,791 in Atlantic City |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,537/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,000 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,180 (NJ) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,520 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Atlantic City | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.7 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 99.8 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 109.2 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 97.9 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 98.9 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Atlantic City, NJ → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −9.2%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$1,351/yr.
28 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Atlantic City, NJ
Same pay goes further
Buying power +10.1%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$1,351/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Atlantic City, NJ is in the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Atlantic City, NJ to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Atlantic City, NJ | Washington, DC | Real change, Atlantic City → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,013 | $70,623 | −5.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $82,289 | $85,447 | −5.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $98,630 | $102,415 | −5.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $117,284 | $121,785 | −5.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $138,595 | $143,913 | −5.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Atlantic City, NJ | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Atlantic City dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $80,480 | $79,470 | $72,152 (−10.3%) |
| Software Developers | $126,670 | $154,930 | $140,663 (+11.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,040 | $102,140 | $92,734 (+11.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,320 | $102,710 | $93,252 (−6.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.