City comparison
Washington, DC vs York, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 13.4% higher than in York, PA. Someone earning $100,000 in York, PA would need about $113,400 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 $1,060 in York, PA. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 17% in York, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,462 a year higher in Washington, DC than in York, PA.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $121,785 in either. A transfer from Washington, DC to York, PA changes real buying power by +13.4%, purely from prices.
- Washington, DC: price level 108.9 (much pricier)
- York, PA: price level 96.0 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Washington, DC | York, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 108.9 | 96.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $88,167 in York | $113,421 in Washington |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $2,015/mo | $1,060/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $73,649 | $76,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,532 (DC) | $3,070 (PA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 33% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $71,060 | $48,170 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area and York-Hanover, PA MSA. Metro areas: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV and York-Hanover, PA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Washington | York |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 151.1 | 79.8 |
| Goods | 104.8 | 100.7 |
| Utilities | 106.7 | 107.0 |
| Other services | 102.3 | 97.7 |
| Overall | 108.9 | 96.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Washington, DC → York, PA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +13.4%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$2,462/yr.
100 Strong offer
York, PA → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −11.8%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$2,462/yr.
26 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Washington, DC to York, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Washington, DC | York, PA | Real change, Washington → York |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,623 | $70,623 | +13.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,447 | $85,447 | +13.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,415 | $102,415 | +13.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,785 | $121,785 | +13.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,913 | $143,913 | +13.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Washington, DC | York, PA | York pay in Washington dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,470 | $79,730 | $90,430 (+13.8%) |
| Software Developers | $154,930 | $114,600 | $129,980 (−16.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $102,140 | $75,160 | $85,247 (−16.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $102,710 | $96,210 | $109,122 (+6.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.