City comparison
Los Angeles, CA vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 4.3% higher than in Washington, DC. Someone earning $100,000 in Washington, DC would need about $104,300 in Los Angeles, CA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $2,085 a month in Los Angeles, CA and $2,015 in Washington, DC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $461 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Los Angeles, CA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.9% moving from Los Angeles, CA to Washington, DC ($124,085 → $121,785), while prices change by −4.1%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.4% in real buying power.
- Los Angeles, CA: price level 113.6 (much 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
| Los Angeles, CA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 113.6 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,877 in Washington | $104,300 in Los Angeles |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $2,085/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 | 34% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $55,850 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Los Angeles | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 170.4 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 106.6 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 158.6 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 104.4 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 113.6 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Los Angeles, CA → Washington, DC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.3%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$461/yr.
70 Strong offer
Washington, DC → Los Angeles, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.1%; rent takes 34% of take-home; state tax −$461/yr.
43 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Los Angeles, CA is in the Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Los Angeles, CA to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Los Angeles, CA | Washington, DC | Real change, Los Angeles → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $71,957 | $70,623 | +2.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $87,061 | $85,447 | +2.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $104,349 | $102,415 | +2.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $124,085 | $121,785 | +2.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $146,632 | $143,913 | +2.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Los Angeles, CA | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Los Angeles dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $101,860 | $79,470 | $82,887 (−18.6%) |
| Software Developers | $160,920 | $154,930 | $161,592 (+0.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $94,360 | $102,140 | $106,532 (+12.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $135,560 | $102,710 | $107,127 (−21.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.