City comparison
Miami, FL vs Spokane, WA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Miami, FL are 13.8% higher than in Spokane, WA. Someone earning $100,000 in Spokane, WA would need about $113,800 in Miami, FL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,995 a month in Miami, FL versus $1,193 in Spokane, WA. On $100,000, that's 30% of take-home pay in Miami, FL and 18% in Spokane, WA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $0 a year in FL and $0 in WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −5.6% moving from Miami, FL to Spokane, WA ($113,356 → $106,991), while prices change by −12.1%. Net effect of the transfer: +7.4% in real buying power.
- Miami, FL: price level 114.2 (much pricier)
- Spokane, WA: price level 100.3 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Miami, FL | Spokane, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 114.2 | 100.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $87,903 in Spokane | $113,761 in Miami |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,995/mo | $1,193/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $0 (WA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 30% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,640 | $54,660 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL | Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID |
Rent areas: Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL HUD Metro FMR Area and Spokane, WA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL and Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Miami | Spokane |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 155.6 | 97.1 |
| Goods | 103.6 | 105.0 |
| Utilities | 97.2 | 91.2 |
| Other services | 109.1 | 99.5 |
| Overall | 114.2 | 100.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Miami, FL → Spokane, WA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +13.8%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
100 Strong offer
Spokane, WA → Miami, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −12.1%; rent takes 30% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
30 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Miami, FL is in the Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL pay area; Spokane, WA is in Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID. The last column shows what a transfer from Miami, FL to Spokane, WA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Miami, FL | Spokane, WA | Real change, Miami → Spokane |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $65,735 | $62,044 | +7.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $79,533 | $75,068 | +7.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $95,326 | $89,974 | +7.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $113,356 | $106,991 | +7.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $133,953 | $126,432 | +7.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Miami, FL | Spokane, WA | Spokane pay in Miami dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $58,300 | $98,800 | $112,396 (+92.8%) |
| Software Developers | $132,650 | $130,690 | $148,675 (+12.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,920 | $86,350 | $98,233 (+21.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $91,380 | $111,750 | $127,128 (+39.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.