City comparison
Bridgeport, CT vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 1.9% higher than in Bridgeport, CT. Someone earning $100,000 in Bridgeport, CT would need about $101,900 in Washington, DC to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $2,100 a month in Bridgeport, CT and $2,015 in Washington, DC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,607 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Bridgeport, CT.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.9% moving from Bridgeport, CT to Washington, DC ($125,431 → $121,785), while prices change by +1.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.7% in real buying power.
- Bridgeport, CT: price level 106.9 (pricier)
- 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
| Bridgeport, CT | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 106.9 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,890 in Washington | $98,145 in Bridgeport |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $2,100/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,255 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,925 (CT) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 33% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $61,470 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Bridgeport | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 150.5 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 97.3 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 147.1 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 102.7 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 106.9 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Bridgeport, CT → Washington, DC
Roughly even
Buying power −1.9%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$1,607/yr.
51 Fair offer
Washington, DC → Bridgeport, CT
Roughly even
Buying power +1.9%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax −$1,607/yr.
62 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Bridgeport, CT is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Bridgeport, CT to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Bridgeport, CT | Washington, DC | Real change, Bridgeport → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $70,623 | −4.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $85,447 | −4.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $102,415 | −4.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $121,785 | −4.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $143,913 | −4.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Bridgeport, CT | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Bridgeport dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $98,600 | $79,470 | $77,996 (−20.9%) |
| Software Developers | $162,650 | $154,930 | $152,056 (−6.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $102,020 | $102,140 | $100,245 (−1.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $105,660 | $102,710 | $100,805 (−4.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.