City comparison
New Haven, CT vs Olympia, WA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in New Haven, CT (104.6) and Olympia, WA (103.7, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in New Haven, CT goes as far as $99,100 in Olympia, WA.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,682 a month in Olympia, WA versus $1,591 in New Haven, CT. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Olympia, WA and 25% in New Haven, CT.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,925 a year higher in New Haven, CT than in Olympia, WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.6% moving from New Haven, CT to Olympia, WA ($125,431 → $119,630), while prices change by −0.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.8% in real buying power.
- New Haven, CT: price level 104.6 (pricier)
- Olympia, WA: price level 103.7 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| New Haven, CT | Olympia, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 104.6 | 103.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,150 in Olympia | $100,858 in New Haven |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,591/mo | $1,682/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,255 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,925 (CT) | $0 (WA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $60,060 | $61,960 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Seattle-Tacoma, WA |
Rent areas: New Haven, CT MSA and Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA MSA. Metro areas: New Haven, CT and Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | New Haven | Olympia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 124.3 | 116.7 |
| Goods | 97.3 | 105.0 |
| Utilities | 144.8 | 91.7 |
| Other services | 102.7 | 99.5 |
| Overall | 104.6 | 103.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
New Haven, CT → Olympia, WA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.9%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$3,925/yr.
71 Strong offer
Olympia, WA → New Haven, CT
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$3,925/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
New Haven, CT is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Olympia, WA is in Seattle-Tacoma, WA. The last column shows what a transfer from New Haven, CT to Olympia, WA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | New Haven, CT | Olympia, WA | Real change, New Haven → Olympia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $69,373 | −3.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $83,935 | −3.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $100,602 | −3.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $119,630 | −3.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $141,367 | −3.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | New Haven, CT | Olympia, WA | Olympia pay in New Haven dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,820 | $104,650 | $105,547 (+32.2%) |
| Software Developers | $133,040 | $124,060 | $125,124 (−6.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $94,960 | $94,470 | $95,280 (+0.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $104,490 | $125,020 | $126,092 (+20.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.