City comparison
Jackson, MS vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 22.3% higher than in Jackson, MS. Someone earning $100,000 in Jackson, MS would need about $122,300 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 $1,097 in Jackson, MS. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 17% in Jackson, MS.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,264 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Jackson, MS.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +14.4% moving from Jackson, MS to Washington, DC ($106,437 → $121,785), while prices change by +22.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.4% in real buying power.
- Jackson, MS: price level 89.0 (much 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
| Jackson, MS | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.0 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $122,276 in Washington | $81,782 in Jackson |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,097/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,912 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,268 (MS) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $42,850 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Jackson, MS HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Jackson, MS and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Jackson | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 64.8 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 78.1 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 96.1 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 89.0 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Jackson, MS → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −18.2%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$2,264/yr.
26 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Jackson, MS
Same pay goes further
Buying power +22.3%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$2,264/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Jackson, MS 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 Jackson, MS to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Jackson, MS | Washington, DC | Real change, Jackson → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $70,623 | −6.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $85,447 | −6.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $102,415 | −6.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $121,785 | −6.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $143,913 | −6.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Jackson, MS | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Jackson dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,240 | $79,470 | $64,993 (+29.4%) |
| Software Developers | $96,990 | $154,930 | $126,706 (+30.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $70,720 | $102,140 | $83,533 (+18.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,630 | $102,710 | $83,999 (+1.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.