City comparison
Portland, ME vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 6.9% higher than in Portland, ME. Someone earning $100,000 in Portland, ME would need about $106,900 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 $1,658 in Portland, ME. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 27% in Portland, ME.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $5,654 a year in ME and $5,532 in DC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +1.0% moving from Portland, ME to Washington, DC ($120,548 → $121,785), while prices change by +6.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −5.5% in real buying power.
- Portland, ME: price level 101.9 (about average)
- 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
| Portland, ME | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.9 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $106,898 in Washington | $93,547 in Portland |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,658/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $73,526 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,654 (ME) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 27% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $56,960 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Portland, ME HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Portland-South Portland, ME and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Portland | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.2 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 97.2 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 134.6 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 103.2 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 101.9 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Portland, ME → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.5%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax −$123/yr.
37 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Portland, ME
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.9%; rent takes 27% of take-home; state tax +$123/yr.
87 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Portland, ME is in the Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Portland, ME to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Portland, ME | Washington, DC | Real change, Portland → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,905 | $70,623 | −5.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,579 | $85,447 | −5.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $101,375 | $102,415 | −5.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,548 | $121,785 | −5.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $142,452 | $143,913 | −5.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Portland, ME | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Portland dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,770 | $79,470 | $74,342 (−3.2%) |
| Software Developers | $128,710 | $154,930 | $144,933 (+12.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,790 | $102,140 | $95,549 (+19.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $88,470 | $102,710 | $96,082 (+8.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.