City comparison
Phoenix, AZ vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 5.4% higher than in Phoenix, AZ. Someone earning $100,000 in Phoenix, AZ would need about $105,400 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 $1,583 in Phoenix, AZ. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 25% in Phoenix, AZ.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,240 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Phoenix, AZ.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +9.4% moving from Phoenix, AZ to Washington, DC ($111,338 → $121,785), while prices change by +5.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.8% in real buying power.
- Phoenix, AZ: price level 103.3 (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
| Phoenix, AZ | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.3 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $105,389 in Washington | $94,886 in Phoenix |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,583/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,889 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,291 (AZ) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,380 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Phoenix-Mesa, AZ | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Phoenix | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 121.2 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 95.0 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 93.3 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 104.0 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 103.3 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Phoenix, AZ → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.1%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$3,240/yr.
41 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Phoenix, AZ
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.4%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$3,240/yr.
86 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Phoenix, AZ is in the Phoenix-Mesa, AZ pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Phoenix, AZ to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Phoenix, AZ | Washington, DC | Real change, Phoenix → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,564 | $70,623 | +3.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,117 | $85,447 | +3.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,629 | $102,415 | +3.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,338 | $121,785 | +3.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,568 | $143,913 | +3.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Phoenix, AZ | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Phoenix dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,180 | $79,470 | $75,406 (+27.4%) |
| Software Developers | $131,750 | $154,930 | $147,007 (+11.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,820 | $102,140 | $96,917 (+19.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $100,830 | $102,710 | $97,458 (−3.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.