City comparison
San Luis Obispo, CA vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in San Luis Obispo, CA (108.6) and Washington, DC (108.9, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in San Luis Obispo, CA goes as far as $100,300 in Washington, DC.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,015 a month in Washington, DC versus $1,914 in San Luis Obispo, CA. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 31% in San Luis Obispo, CA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $461 a year higher in Washington, DC than in San Luis Obispo, CA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.9% moving from San Luis Obispo, CA to Washington, DC ($124,085 → $121,785), while prices change by +0.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.1% in real buying power.
- San Luis Obispo, CA: price level 108.6 (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 Luis Obispo, CA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 108.6 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,265 in Washington | $99,735 in San Luis Obispo |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,914/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 | 31% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $50,770 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | San Luis Obispo | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 144.4 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 147.8 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 108.6 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
San Luis Obispo, CA → Washington, DC
Roughly even
Buying power −0.3%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$461/yr.
56 Fair offer
Washington, DC → San Luis Obispo, CA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.3%; rent takes 31% of take-home; state tax −$461/yr.
61 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
San Luis Obispo, CA is in the Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from San Luis Obispo, CA to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | San Luis Obispo, CA | Washington, DC | Real change, San Luis Obispo → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $71,957 | $70,623 | −2.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $87,061 | $85,447 | −2.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $104,349 | $102,415 | −2.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $124,085 | $121,785 | −2.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $146,632 | $143,913 | −2.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | San Luis Obispo, CA | Washington, DC | Washington pay in San Luis Obispo dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $97,620 | $79,470 | $79,260 (−18.8%) |
| Software Developers | $135,020 | $154,930 | $154,520 (+14.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $88,160 | $102,140 | $101,870 (+15.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $138,820 | $102,710 | $102,438 (−26.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.