City comparison
Washington, DC vs Waterbury, CT
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 9.1% higher than in Waterbury, CT. Someone earning $100,000 in Waterbury, CT would need about $109,100 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 $1,445 in Waterbury, CT. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 23% in Waterbury, CT.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,607 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Waterbury, CT.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +3.0% moving from Washington, DC to Waterbury, CT ($121,785 → $125,431), while prices change by −8.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +12.4% in real buying power.
- Washington, DC: price level 108.9 (much pricier)
- Waterbury, CT: price level 99.8 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Washington, DC | Waterbury, CT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 108.9 | 99.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $91,637 in Waterbury | $109,126 in Washington |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $2,015/mo | $1,445/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $73,649 | $75,255 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,532 (DC) | $3,925 (CT) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 33% | 23% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $71,060 | $51,440 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA |
Rent areas: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area and Waterbury-Shelton, CT MSA. Metro areas: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV and Waterbury-Shelton, CT.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Washington | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 151.1 | 89.1 |
| Goods | 104.8 | 97.3 |
| Utilities | 106.7 | 147.6 |
| Other services | 102.3 | 102.7 |
| Overall | 108.9 | 99.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Washington, DC → Waterbury, CT
Same pay goes further
Buying power +9.1%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$1,607/yr.
97 Strong offer
Waterbury, CT → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.4%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$1,607/yr.
31 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Washington, DC is in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA pay area; Waterbury, CT is in New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Washington, DC to Waterbury, CT at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Washington, DC | Waterbury, CT | Real change, Washington → Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,623 | $72,737 | +12.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,447 | $88,005 | +12.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,415 | $105,481 | +12.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,785 | $125,431 | +12.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,913 | $148,222 | +12.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Washington, DC | Waterbury, CT | Waterbury pay in Washington dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,470 | $79,640 | $86,908 (+9.4%) |
| Software Developers | $154,930 | $131,290 | $143,272 (−7.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $102,140 | $93,010 | $101,498 (−0.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $102,710 | $101,690 | $110,970 (+8.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.