City comparison
Spokane, WA vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 8.5% higher than in Spokane, WA. Someone earning $100,000 in Spokane, WA would need about $108,500 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 $1,193 in Spokane, WA. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 18% in Spokane, WA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,532 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Spokane, WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +13.8% moving from Spokane, WA to Washington, DC ($106,991 → $121,785), while prices change by +8.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +4.9% in real buying power.
- Spokane, WA: price level 100.3 (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
| Spokane, WA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.3 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $108,509 in Washington | $92,159 in Spokane |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,193/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (WA) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $54,660 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Spokane, WA HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Spokane | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 97.1 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 105.0 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 91.2 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 99.5 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 100.3 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Spokane, WA → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.8%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$5,532/yr.
32 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Spokane, WA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.5%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$5,532/yr.
95 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Spokane, WA is in the Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Spokane, WA to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Spokane, WA | Washington, DC | Real change, Spokane → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,044 | $70,623 | +4.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,068 | $85,447 | +4.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,974 | $102,415 | +4.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,991 | $121,785 | +4.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,432 | $143,913 | +4.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Spokane, WA | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Spokane dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $98,800 | $79,470 | $73,238 (−25.9%) |
| Software Developers | $130,690 | $154,930 | $142,781 (+9.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $86,350 | $102,140 | $94,131 (+9.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $111,750 | $102,710 | $94,656 (−15.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.