City comparison
Santa Maria, CA vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Santa Maria, CA (108.8) and Washington, DC (108.9, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Santa Maria, CA goes as far as $100,100 in Washington, DC.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,746 a month in Santa Maria, CA versus $2,015 in Washington, DC. On $100,000, that's 44% of take-home pay in Santa Maria, CA and 33% in Washington, DC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $461 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Santa Maria, CA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.9% moving from Santa Maria, CA to Washington, DC ($124,085 → $121,785), while prices change by +0.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.9% in real buying power.
- Santa Maria, CA: price level 108.8 (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
| Santa Maria, CA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 108.8 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,079 in Washington | $99,921 in Santa Maria |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $2,746/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 | 44% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,690 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Santa Maria | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 151.4 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 149.8 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 108.8 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Santa Maria, CA → Washington, DC
Roughly even
Buying power −0.1%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$461/yr.
57 Fair offer
Washington, DC → Santa Maria, CA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.1%; rent takes 44% of take-home; state tax −$461/yr.
40 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Santa Maria, 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 Santa Maria, CA to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Santa Maria, CA | Washington, DC | Real change, Santa Maria → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $71,957 | $70,623 | −1.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $87,061 | $85,447 | −1.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $104,349 | $102,415 | −1.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $124,085 | $121,785 | −1.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $146,632 | $143,913 | −1.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Santa Maria, CA | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Santa Maria dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $101,030 | $79,470 | $79,407 (−21.4%) |
| Software Developers | $158,290 | $154,930 | $154,808 (−2.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $91,610 | $102,140 | $102,059 (+11.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $137,360 | $102,710 | $102,629 (−25.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.