City comparison
Birmingham, AL vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 18.8% higher than in Birmingham, AL. Someone earning $100,000 in Birmingham, AL would need about $118,800 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 $1,155 in Birmingham, AL. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 19% in Birmingham, AL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $797 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Birmingham, AL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +13.3% moving from Birmingham, AL to Washington, DC ($107,510 → $121,785), while prices change by +18.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.7% in real buying power.
- Birmingham, AL: price level 91.6 (much cheaper)
- 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
| Birmingham, AL | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.6 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $118,812 in Washington | $84,167 in Birmingham |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,155/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,445 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,735 (AL) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,770 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Birmingham-Hoover, AL HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Birmingham, AL and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Birmingham | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 71.9 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 96.4 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 83.8 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 96.7 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 91.6 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Birmingham, AL → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −15.8%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$797/yr.
26 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Birmingham, AL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +18.8%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$797/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Birmingham, AL is in the Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Birmingham, AL to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Birmingham, AL | Washington, DC | Real change, Birmingham → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,344 | $70,623 | −4.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,431 | $85,447 | −4.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,410 | $102,415 | −4.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,510 | $121,785 | −4.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,044 | $143,913 | −4.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Birmingham, AL | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Birmingham dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,630 | $79,470 | $66,887 (+6.8%) |
| Software Developers | $125,410 | $154,930 | $130,399 (+4.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,660 | $102,140 | $85,968 (+9.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $78,680 | $102,710 | $86,448 (+9.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.