City comparison
Minneapolis, MN vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 3.9% higher than in Minneapolis, MN. Someone earning $100,000 in Minneapolis, MN would need about $103,900 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 $1,405 in Minneapolis, MN. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 23% in Minneapolis, MN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $255 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Minneapolis, MN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +5.0% moving from Minneapolis, MN to Washington, DC ($116,038 → $121,785), while prices change by +3.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.0% in real buying power.
- Minneapolis, MN: price level 104.8 (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
| Minneapolis, MN | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 104.8 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $103,875 in Washington | $96,269 in Minneapolis |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,405/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $73,903 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,277 (MN) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $59,320 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Minneapolis | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 111.8 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 103.1 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 93.5 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 104.4 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 104.8 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Minneapolis, MN → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.7%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$255/yr.
45 Fair offer
Washington, DC → Minneapolis, MN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.9%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$255/yr.
81 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Minneapolis, MN is in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Minneapolis, MN to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Minneapolis, MN | Washington, DC | Real change, Minneapolis → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $67,290 | $70,623 | +1.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $81,415 | $85,447 | +1.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $97,582 | $102,415 | +1.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $116,038 | $121,785 | +1.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $137,123 | $143,913 | +1.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Minneapolis, MN | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Minneapolis dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,730 | $79,470 | $76,505 (−4.0%) |
| Software Developers | $130,920 | $154,930 | $149,150 (+13.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $86,500 | $102,140 | $98,330 (+13.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $103,040 | $102,710 | $98,878 (−4.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.