City comparison
Trenton, NJ vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 5.5% higher than in Trenton, NJ. Someone earning $100,000 in Trenton, NJ would need about $105,500 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 $1,545 in Trenton, NJ. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 25% in Trenton, NJ.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,351 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Trenton, NJ.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.9% moving from Trenton, NJ to Washington, DC ($125,431 → $121,785), while prices change by +5.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −8.0% in real buying power.
- Trenton, NJ: price level 103.2 (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
| Trenton, NJ | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.2 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $105,528 in Washington | $94,761 in Trenton |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,545/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,000 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,180 (NJ) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $63,490 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Trenton-Princeton, NJ MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Trenton-Princeton, NJ and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Trenton | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 135.1 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 99.8 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 112.3 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 97.9 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 103.2 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Trenton, NJ → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.2%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$1,351/yr.
41 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Trenton, NJ
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.5%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$1,351/yr.
86 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Trenton, NJ is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Trenton, NJ to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Trenton, NJ | Washington, DC | Real change, Trenton → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $70,623 | −8.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $85,447 | −8.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $102,415 | −8.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $121,785 | −8.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $143,913 | −8.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Trenton, NJ | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Trenton dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $77,850 | $79,470 | $75,307 (−3.3%) |
| Software Developers | $128,770 | $154,930 | $146,814 (+14.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $99,550 | $102,140 | $96,789 (−2.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,990 | $102,710 | $97,329 (−2.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.