City comparison
Huntsville, AL vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 17.0% higher than in Huntsville, AL. Someone earning $100,000 in Huntsville, AL would need about $117,000 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 $1,136 in Huntsville, AL. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 18% in Huntsville, AL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $797 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Huntsville, AL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +9.9% moving from Huntsville, AL to Washington, DC ($110,847 → $121,785), while prices change by +17.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.1% in real buying power.
- Huntsville, AL: price level 93.1 (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
| Huntsville, AL | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.1 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $116,989 in Washington | $85,478 in Huntsville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,136/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,445 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,735 (AL) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,740 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Huntsville, AL MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Huntsville, AL and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Huntsville | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 77.9 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 96.4 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 83.9 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 96.7 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 93.1 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Huntsville, AL → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −14.5%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$797/yr.
26 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Huntsville, AL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +17.0%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$797/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Huntsville, AL is in the Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Huntsville, AL to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Huntsville, AL | Washington, DC | Real change, Huntsville → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,279 | $70,623 | −6.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,772 | $85,447 | −6.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,216 | $102,415 | −6.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $110,847 | $121,785 | −6.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $130,987 | $143,913 | −6.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Huntsville, AL | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Huntsville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,250 | $79,470 | $67,929 (+9.1%) |
| Software Developers | $128,080 | $154,930 | $132,431 (+3.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,220 | $102,140 | $87,307 (+10.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,090 | $102,710 | $87,795 (+13.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.