City comparison
Grand Rapids, MI vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 14.0% higher than in Grand Rapids, MI. Someone earning $100,000 in Grand Rapids, MI would need about $114,000 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 $1,278 in Grand Rapids, MI. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 20% in Grand Rapids, MI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,532 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Grand Rapids, MI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +14.4% moving from Grand Rapids, MI to Washington, DC ($106,437 → $121,785), while prices change by +14.0%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.4% in real buying power.
- Grand Rapids, MI: 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
| Grand Rapids, MI | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.5 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $113,960 in Washington | $87,750 in Grand Rapids |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,278/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,181 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,999 (MI) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,570 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Grand Rapids | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 86.6 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 93.8 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 95.5 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Grand Rapids, MI → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −12.2%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$1,532/yr.
26 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Grand Rapids, MI
Same pay goes further
Buying power +14.0%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$1,532/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Grand Rapids, MI 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 Grand Rapids, MI to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Grand Rapids, MI | Washington, DC | Real change, Grand Rapids → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $70,623 | +0.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $85,447 | +0.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $102,415 | +0.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $121,785 | +0.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $143,913 | +0.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Grand Rapids, MI | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Grand Rapids dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,900 | $79,470 | $69,735 (+12.7%) |
| Software Developers | $107,520 | $154,930 | $135,951 (+26.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,270 | $102,140 | $89,628 (+17.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,920 | $102,710 | $90,128 (+7.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.