City comparison
Merced, CA vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 10.8% higher than in Merced, CA. Someone earning $100,000 in Merced, CA would need about $110,800 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 $1,213 in Merced, CA. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 20% in Merced, CA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $461 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Merced, CA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −8.5% moving from Merced, CA to Washington, DC ($133,060 → $121,785), while prices change by +10.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −17.4% in real buying power.
- Merced, CA: price level 98.3 (about average)
- 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
| Merced, CA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.3 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $110,795 in Washington | $90,257 in Merced |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,213/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 | 20% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,220 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Merced, CA MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Merced, CA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Merced | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 78.6 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 158.3 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 98.3 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Merced, CA → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −9.7%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$461/yr.
27 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Merced, CA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +10.8%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$461/yr.
100 Strong offer
Federal employees: GS pay
Merced, CA is in the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Merced, CA to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Merced, CA | Washington, DC | Real change, Merced → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $77,161 | $70,623 | −17.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $93,358 | $85,447 | −17.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $111,896 | $102,415 | −17.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $133,060 | $121,785 | −17.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $157,236 | $143,913 | −17.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Merced, CA | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Merced dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | not published | $148,950 | — |
| Software Developers | $132,120 | $154,930 | $139,835 (+5.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,420 | $102,140 | $92,188 (+14.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $131,620 | $102,710 | $92,703 (−29.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.