City comparison
Dayton, 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 17.5% higher than in Dayton, OH. Someone earning $100,000 in Dayton, OH would need about $117,500 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 $1,009 in Dayton, OH. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 16% in Dayton, OH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,564 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Dayton, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +10.3% moving from Dayton, OH to Washington, DC ($110,401 → $121,785), while prices change by +17.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.1% in real buying power.
- Dayton, OH: price level 92.7 (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
| Dayton, OH | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.7 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $117,466 in Washington | $85,131 in Dayton |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,009/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 | 16% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,980 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Dayton | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 72.7 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 95.4 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 92.7 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Dayton, OH → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −14.9%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$3,564/yr.
26 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Dayton, OH
Same pay goes further
Buying power +17.5%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax −$3,564/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Dayton, OH is in the Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Dayton, OH to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Dayton, OH | Washington, DC | Real change, Dayton → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,021 | $70,623 | −6.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,460 | $85,447 | −6.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,841 | $102,415 | −6.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $110,401 | $121,785 | −6.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $130,461 | $143,913 | −6.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Dayton, OH | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Dayton dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $80,360 | $79,470 | $67,654 (−15.8%) |
| Software Developers | $106,910 | $154,930 | $131,893 (+23.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,030 | $102,140 | $86,953 (+10.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,510 | $102,710 | $87,438 (+6.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.