City comparison
Urban Honolulu, HI vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Urban Honolulu, HI are 1.9% higher than in Washington, DC. Someone earning $100,000 in Washington, DC would need about $101,900 in Urban Honolulu, HI to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $2,016 a month in Urban Honolulu, HI and $2,015 in Washington, DC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $538 a year higher in Urban Honolulu, HI than in Washington, DC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +9.6% moving from Urban Honolulu, HI to Washington, DC ($111,119 → $121,785), while prices change by −1.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +11.7% in real buying power.
- Urban Honolulu, HI: price level 111.0 (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
| Urban Honolulu, HI | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 111.0 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,128 in Washington | $101,908 in Urban Honolulu |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $2,016/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $73,110 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $6,070 (HI) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 33% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $57,220 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | State of Hawaii | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Urban Honolulu, HI MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Urban Honolulu, HI and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Urban Honolulu | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 135.5 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 111.6 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 187.3 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 102.9 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 111.0 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Urban Honolulu, HI → Washington, DC
Roughly even
Buying power +1.9%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax −$538/yr.
63 Fair offer
Washington, DC → Urban Honolulu, HI
Roughly even
Buying power −1.9%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$538/yr.
51 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Urban Honolulu, HI is in the State of Hawaii pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Urban Honolulu, HI to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | Washington, DC | Real change, Urban Honolulu → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,438 | $70,623 | +11.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,964 | $85,447 | +11.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,445 | $102,415 | +11.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,119 | $121,785 | +11.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,310 | $143,913 | +11.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Urban Honolulu, HI | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Urban Honolulu dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $73,080 | $79,470 | $80,986 (+10.8%) |
| Software Developers | $120,230 | $154,930 | $157,885 (+31.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $74,990 | $102,140 | $104,088 (+38.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $139,260 | $102,710 | $104,669 (−24.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.