City comparison
Springfield, MA vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 13.3% higher than in Springfield, MA. Someone earning $100,000 in Springfield, MA would need about $113,300 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 $1,382 in Springfield, MA. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 22% in Springfield, MA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $752 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Springfield, MA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +1.4% moving from Springfield, MA to Washington, DC ($120,094 → $121,785), while prices change by +13.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −10.5% in real buying power.
- Springfield, MA: price level 96.1 (cheaper)
- 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
| Springfield, MA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.1 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $113,349 in Washington | $88,223 in Springfield |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,382/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,400 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,780 (MA) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,930 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Springfield, MA MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Springfield, MA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Springfield | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 75.8 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 97.0 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 155.0 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 101.2 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 96.1 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Springfield, MA → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −11.8%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$752/yr.
26 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Springfield, MA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +13.3%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$752/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Springfield, MA is in the Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Springfield, MA to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Springfield, MA | Washington, DC | Real change, Springfield → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,642 | $70,623 | −10.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,260 | $85,447 | −10.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,992 | $102,415 | −10.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,094 | $121,785 | −10.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,915 | $143,913 | −10.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Springfield, MA | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Springfield dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,640 | $79,470 | $70,111 (−12.0%) |
| Software Developers | $127,740 | $154,930 | $136,684 (+7.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $92,010 | $102,140 | $90,111 (−2.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $98,410 | $102,710 | $90,614 (−7.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.