City comparison
Colorado Springs, CO vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 8.1% higher than in Colorado Springs, CO. Someone earning $100,000 in Colorado Springs, CO would need about $108,100 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 $1,464 in Colorado Springs, CO. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 23% in Colorado Springs, CO.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,840 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Colorado Springs, CO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +11.5% moving from Colorado Springs, CO to Washington, DC ($109,246 → $121,785), while prices change by +8.1%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.1% in real buying power.
- Colorado Springs, CO: price level 100.7 (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
| Colorado Springs, CO | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.7 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $108,120 in Washington | $92,490 in Colorado Springs |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,464/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,488 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,692 (CO) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $52,710 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Colorado Springs, CO | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Colorado Springs, CO HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Colorado Springs, CO and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Colorado Springs | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 116.2 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 83.2 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 99.8 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 100.7 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Colorado Springs, CO → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.5%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$1,840/yr.
34 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Colorado Springs, CO
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.1%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$1,840/yr.
94 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Colorado Springs, CO is in the Colorado Springs, CO pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Colorado Springs, CO to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Colorado Springs, CO | Washington, DC | Real change, Colorado Springs → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,351 | $70,623 | +3.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,650 | $85,447 | +3.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,870 | $102,415 | +3.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,246 | $121,785 | +3.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,096 | $143,913 | +3.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Colorado Springs, CO | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Colorado Springs dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,140 | $79,470 | $73,502 (+20.2%) |
| Software Developers | $134,280 | $154,930 | $143,295 (+6.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,000 | $102,140 | $94,469 (+11.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,140 | $102,710 | $94,997 (−1.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.