City comparison
Olympia, WA vs Tucson, AZ
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Olympia, WA are 7.0% higher than in Tucson, AZ. Someone earning $100,000 in Tucson, AZ would need about $107,000 in Olympia, WA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,682 a month in Olympia, WA versus $1,081 in Tucson, AZ. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Olympia, WA and 17% in Tucson, AZ.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,291 a year higher in Tucson, AZ than in Olympia, WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −9.3% moving from Olympia, WA to Tucson, AZ ($119,630 → $108,455), while prices change by −6.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.0% in real buying power.
- Olympia, WA: price level 103.7 (pricier)
- Tucson, AZ: price level 96.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Olympia, WA | Tucson, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.7 | 96.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $93,466 in Tucson | $106,991 in Olympia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,682/mo | $1,081/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $76,889 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (WA) | $2,291 (AZ) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $61,960 | $47,760 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Seattle-Tacoma, WA | Tucson-Nogales, AZ |
Rent areas: Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA MSA and Tucson, AZ MSA. Metro areas: Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA and Tucson, AZ.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Olympia | Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 116.7 | 91.8 |
| Goods | 105.0 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 91.7 | 89.5 |
| Other services | 99.5 | 99.8 |
| Overall | 103.7 | 96.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Olympia, WA → Tucson, AZ
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.0%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$2,291/yr.
91 Strong offer
Tucson, AZ → Olympia, WA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.5%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$2,291/yr.
48 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Olympia, WA is in the Seattle-Tacoma, WA pay area; Tucson, AZ is in Tucson-Nogales, AZ. The last column shows what a transfer from Olympia, WA to Tucson, AZ at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Olympia, WA | Tucson, AZ | Real change, Olympia → Tucson |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,373 | $62,893 | −3.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,935 | $76,095 | −3.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,602 | $91,205 | −3.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $119,630 | $108,455 | −3.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,367 | $128,162 | −3.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Olympia, WA | Tucson, AZ | Tucson pay in Olympia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $104,650 | $47,220 | $50,521 (−51.7%) |
| Software Developers | $124,060 | $123,710 | $132,359 (+6.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $94,470 | $76,320 | $81,656 (−13.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $125,020 | $94,110 | $100,689 (−19.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.