City comparison
Providence, RI vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 7.0% higher than in Providence, RI. Someone earning $100,000 in Providence, RI would need about $107,000 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 $1,402 in Providence, RI. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 22% in Providence, RI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,383 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Providence, RI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +1.0% moving from Providence, RI to Washington, DC ($120,548 → $121,785), while prices change by +7.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −5.6% in real buying power.
- Providence, RI: price level 101.8 (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
| Providence, RI | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.8 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $106,987 in Washington | $93,469 in Providence |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,402/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,032 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,148 (RI) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $53,680 | $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: Providence-Fall River, RI-MA HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Providence-Warwick, RI-MA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Providence | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 103.9 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 97.1 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 148.8 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 102.3 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 101.8 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Providence, RI → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.5%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$2,383/yr.
37 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Providence, RI
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.0%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$2,383/yr.
91 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Providence, RI 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 Providence, RI to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Providence, RI | Washington, DC | Real change, Providence → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,905 | $70,623 | −5.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,579 | $85,447 | −5.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $101,375 | $102,415 | −5.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,548 | $121,785 | −5.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $142,452 | $143,913 | −5.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Providence, RI | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Providence dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $86,720 | $79,470 | $74,280 (−14.3%) |
| Software Developers | $130,690 | $154,930 | $144,812 (+10.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $95,020 | $102,140 | $95,469 (+0.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,880 | $102,710 | $96,002 (−3.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.