City comparison
Eugene, OR vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 7.2% higher than in Eugene, OR. Someone earning $100,000 in Eugene, OR would need about $107,200 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 $1,286 in Eugene, OR. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 22% in Eugene, OR.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,389 a year higher in Eugene, OR than in Washington, DC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +14.4% moving from Eugene, OR to Washington, DC ($106,437 → $121,785), while prices change by +7.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +6.7% in real buying power.
- Eugene, OR: price level 101.6 (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
| Eugene, OR | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.6 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $107,203 in Washington | $93,281 in Eugene |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,286/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,680 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Eugene | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.3 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 102.5 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 101.6 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Eugene, OR → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.7%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax −$2,389/yr.
36 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Eugene, OR
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.2%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$2,389/yr.
91 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Eugene, OR is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Eugene, OR to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Eugene, OR | Washington, DC | Real change, Eugene → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $70,623 | +6.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $85,447 | +6.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $102,415 | +6.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $121,785 | +6.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $143,913 | +6.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Eugene, OR | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Eugene dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,260 | $79,470 | $74,130 (+15.4%) |
| Software Developers | $121,050 | $154,930 | $144,520 (+19.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,930 | $102,140 | $95,277 (+19.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $113,720 | $102,710 | $95,809 (−15.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.