City comparison
Fresno, CA vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 6.6% higher than in Fresno, CA. Someone earning $100,000 in Fresno, CA would need about $106,600 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 $1,355 in Fresno, CA. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 22% in Fresno, CA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $461 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Fresno, CA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +13.8% moving from Fresno, CA to Washington, DC ($106,973 → $121,785), while prices change by +6.6%. Net effect of the transfer: +6.8% in real buying power.
- Fresno, CA: price level 102.2 (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
| Fresno, CA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.2 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $106,584 in Washington | $93,823 in Fresno |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,355/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,910 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Fresno, CA HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Fresno, CA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fresno | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 95.7 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 161.0 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 102.2 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fresno, CA → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.2%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$461/yr.
38 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Fresno, CA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.6%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$461/yr.
89 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Fresno, CA is in the Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Fresno, CA to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fresno, CA | Washington, DC | Real change, Fresno → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,033 | $70,623 | +6.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,055 | $85,447 | +6.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,959 | $102,415 | +6.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,973 | $121,785 | +6.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,410 | $143,913 | +6.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fresno, CA | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Fresno dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,800 | $79,470 | $74,561 (−5.4%) |
| Software Developers | $129,060 | $154,930 | $145,360 (+12.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,690 | $102,140 | $95,831 (+21.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $125,420 | $102,710 | $96,365 (−23.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.