City comparison
Richmond, VA vs Toledo, OH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Richmond, VA are 7.0% higher than in Toledo, OH. Someone earning $100,000 in Toledo, OH would need about $107,000 in Richmond, VA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,507 a month in Richmond, VA versus $820 in Toledo, OH. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Richmond, VA and 13% in Toledo, OH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,968 a year higher in Richmond, VA than in Toledo, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.3% moving from Richmond, VA to Toledo, OH ($111,183 → $106,437), while prices change by −6.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.4% in real buying power.
- Richmond, VA: price level 97.9 (cheaper)
- Toledo, OH: price level 91.5 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Richmond, VA | Toledo, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.9 | 91.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $93,457 in Toledo | $107,001 in Richmond |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,507/mo | $820/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,244 | $77,212 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,936 (VA) | $1,968 (OH) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 13% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,460 | $48,220 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Richmond, VA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Richmond, VA HUD Metro FMR Area and Toledo, OH MSA. Metro areas: Richmond, VA and Toledo, OH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Richmond | Toledo |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 99.1 | 67.3 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 96.3 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 97.9 | 91.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Richmond, VA → Toledo, OH
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.0%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax −$2,968/yr.
91 Strong offer
Toledo, OH → Richmond, VA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.5%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$2,968/yr.
48 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Richmond, VA is in the Richmond, VA pay area; Toledo, OH is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Richmond, VA to Toledo, OH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Richmond, VA | Toledo, OH | Real change, Richmond → Toledo |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,475 | $61,722 | +2.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,009 | $74,678 | +2.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,499 | $89,508 | +2.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,183 | $106,437 | +2.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,385 | $125,776 | +2.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Richmond, VA | Toledo, OH | Toledo pay in Richmond dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,290 | $63,250 | $67,678 (+10.4%) |
| Software Developers | $132,120 | $104,360 | $111,667 (−15.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,220 | $77,400 | $82,819 (−1.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $93,580 | $81,050 | $86,725 (−7.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.