City comparison
San Francisco, CA vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in San Francisco, CA are 6.2% higher than in Washington, DC. Someone earning $100,000 in Washington, DC would need about $106,200 in San Francisco, CA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,977 a month in San Francisco, CA versus $2,015 in Washington, DC. On $100,000, that's 48% of take-home pay in San Francisco, CA and 33% in Washington, DC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $461 a year higher in Washington, DC than in San Francisco, CA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −8.5% moving from San Francisco, CA to Washington, DC ($133,060 → $121,785), while prices change by −5.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.8% in real buying power.
- San Francisco, CA: price level 115.6 (much 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
| San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 115.6 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,180 in Washington | $106,180 in San Francisco |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $2,977/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 48% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $74,260 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: San Francisco, CA HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | San Francisco | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 194.7 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 108.5 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 172.6 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 106.2 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 115.6 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
San Francisco, CA → Washington, DC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.2%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$461/yr.
76 Strong offer
Washington, DC → San Francisco, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.8%; rent takes 48% of take-home; state tax −$461/yr.
16 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
San Francisco, CA is in the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from San Francisco, CA to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC | Real change, San Francisco → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $77,161 | $70,623 | −2.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $93,358 | $85,447 | −2.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $111,896 | $102,415 | −2.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $133,060 | $121,785 | −2.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $157,236 | $143,913 | −2.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC | Washington pay in San Francisco dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $101,860 | $79,470 | $84,381 (−17.2%) |
| Software Developers | $186,640 | $154,930 | $164,505 (−11.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $110,730 | $102,140 | $108,452 (−2.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $186,610 | $102,710 | $109,057 (−41.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.