City comparison
Columbus, OH vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 14.1% higher than in Columbus, OH. Someone earning $100,000 in Columbus, OH would need about $114,100 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 $1,194 in Columbus, OH. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 19% in Columbus, OH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,564 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Columbus, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +9.7% moving from Columbus, OH to Washington, DC ($111,065 → $121,785), while prices change by +14.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.9% in real buying power.
- Columbus, OH: price level 95.5 (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
| Columbus, OH | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.5 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $114,052 in Washington | $87,680 in Columbus |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,194/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $77,212 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $1,968 (OH) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,340 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Columbus, OH HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Columbus, OH and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Columbus | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 87.9 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 95.5 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 95.5 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Columbus, OH → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −12.3%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$3,564/yr.
26 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Columbus, OH
Same pay goes further
Buying power +14.1%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$3,564/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Columbus, OH is in the Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Columbus, OH to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Columbus, OH | Washington, DC | Real change, Columbus → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,406 | $70,623 | −3.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,926 | $85,447 | −3.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,400 | $102,415 | −3.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,065 | $121,785 | −3.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,245 | $143,913 | −3.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Columbus, OH | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Columbus dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,150 | $79,470 | $69,679 (−10.8%) |
| Software Developers | $122,340 | $154,930 | $135,842 (+11.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $81,700 | $102,140 | $89,556 (+9.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,900 | $102,710 | $90,056 (+7.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.