City comparison
Waco, TX vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 17.6% higher than in Waco, TX. Someone earning $100,000 in Waco, TX would need about $117,600 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 $996 in Waco, TX. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 15% in Waco, TX.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,532 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Waco, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +14.4% moving from Waco, TX to Washington, DC ($106,437 → $121,785), while prices change by +17.6%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.7% in real buying power.
- Waco, TX: price level 92.5 (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
| Waco, TX | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.5 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $117,649 in Washington | $84,999 in Waco |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $996/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,020 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Waco, TX HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Waco, TX and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Waco | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 83.5 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 81.0 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 92.5 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Waco, TX → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −15.0%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$5,532/yr.
26 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Waco, TX
Same pay goes further
Buying power +17.6%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$5,532/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Waco, TX is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Waco, TX to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Waco, TX | Washington, DC | Real change, Waco → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $70,623 | −2.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $85,447 | −2.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $102,415 | −2.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $121,785 | −2.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $143,913 | −2.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Waco, TX | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Waco dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,100 | $79,470 | $67,548 (+14.3%) |
| Software Developers | $123,080 | $154,930 | $131,689 (+7.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,140 | $102,140 | $86,818 (+14.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,890 | $102,710 | $87,302 (−6.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.