City comparison
Miami, FL vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Miami, FL are 4.8% higher than in Washington, DC. Someone earning $100,000 in Washington, DC would need about $104,800 in Miami, FL to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,995 a month in Miami, FL and $2,015 in Washington, DC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,532 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Miami, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +7.4% moving from Miami, FL to Washington, DC ($113,356 → $121,785), while prices change by −4.6%. Net effect of the transfer: +12.6% in real buying power.
- Miami, FL: price level 114.2 (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
| Miami, FL | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 114.2 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,383 in Washington | $104,841 in Miami |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,995/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 30% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,640 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Miami | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 155.6 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 103.6 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 97.2 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 109.1 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 114.2 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Miami, FL → Washington, DC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.8%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$5,532/yr.
72 Strong offer
Washington, DC → Miami, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.6%; rent takes 30% of take-home; state tax −$5,532/yr.
46 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Miami, FL is in the Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Miami, FL to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Miami, FL | Washington, DC | Real change, Miami → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $65,735 | $70,623 | +12.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $79,533 | $85,447 | +12.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $95,326 | $102,415 | +12.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $113,356 | $121,785 | +12.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $133,953 | $143,913 | +12.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Miami, FL | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Miami dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $58,300 | $79,470 | $83,317 (+42.9%) |
| Software Developers | $132,650 | $154,930 | $162,430 (+22.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,920 | $102,140 | $107,085 (+32.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $91,380 | $102,710 | $107,682 (+17.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.