City comparison
Baltimore, MD vs Olympia, WA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Baltimore, MD (104.5) and Olympia, WA (103.7, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Baltimore, MD goes as far as $99,200 in Olympia, WA.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,682 a month in Olympia, WA versus $1,511 in Baltimore, MD. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Olympia, WA and 24% in Baltimore, MD.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,386 a year higher in Baltimore, MD than in Olympia, WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.8% moving from Baltimore, MD to Olympia, WA ($121,785 → $119,630), while prices change by −0.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.0% in real buying power.
- Baltimore, MD: price level 104.5 (pricier)
- 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
| Baltimore, MD | Olympia, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 104.5 | 103.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,218 in Olympia | $100,788 in Baltimore |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,511/mo | $1,682/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,794 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,386 (MD) | $0 (WA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $59,070 | $61,960 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | Seattle-Tacoma, WA |
Rent areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA and Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA MSA. Metro areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD and Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Baltimore | Olympia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 118.2 | 116.7 |
| Goods | 102.4 | 105.0 |
| Utilities | 110.2 | 91.7 |
| Other services | 101.5 | 99.5 |
| Overall | 104.5 | 103.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Baltimore, MD → Olympia, WA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.8%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$4,386/yr.
70 Strong offer
Olympia, WA → Baltimore, MD
Roughly even
Buying power −0.8%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$4,386/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Baltimore, MD is in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA pay area; Olympia, WA is in Seattle-Tacoma, WA. The last column shows what a transfer from Baltimore, MD to Olympia, WA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Baltimore, MD | Olympia, WA | Real change, Baltimore → Olympia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,623 | $69,373 | −1.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,447 | $83,935 | −1.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,415 | $100,602 | −1.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,785 | $119,630 | −1.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,913 | $141,367 | −1.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Baltimore, MD | Olympia, WA | Olympia pay in Baltimore dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,400 | $104,650 | $105,475 (+38.1%) |
| Software Developers | $138,900 | $124,060 | $125,038 (−10.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,160 | $94,470 | $95,214 (+11.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,550 | $125,020 | $126,005 (+26.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.