City comparison
Anchorage, AK vs Olympia, WA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Anchorage, AK are 1.7% higher than in Olympia, WA. Someone earning $100,000 in Olympia, WA would need about $101,700 in Anchorage, AK to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,682 a month in Olympia, WA versus $1,243 in Anchorage, AK. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Olympia, WA and 19% in Anchorage, AK.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $0 a year in AK and $0 in WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.6% moving from Anchorage, AK to Olympia, WA ($120,348 → $119,630), while prices change by −1.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.1% in real buying power.
- Anchorage, AK: price level 105.4 (pricier)
- Olympia, WA: price level 103.7 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Anchorage, AK | Olympia, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.4 | 103.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,340 in Olympia | $101,688 in Anchorage |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,243/mo | $1,682/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (AK) | $0 (WA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $60,200 | $61,960 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | State of Alaska | Seattle-Tacoma, WA |
Rent areas: Anchorage, AK HUD Metro FMR Area and Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA MSA. Metro areas: Anchorage, AK and Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Anchorage | Olympia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 109.9 | 116.7 |
| Goods | 107.3 | 105.0 |
| Utilities | 111.8 | 91.7 |
| Other services | 103.3 | 99.5 |
| Overall | 105.4 | 103.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Anchorage, AK → Olympia, WA
Roughly even
Buying power +1.7%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
73 Strong offer
Olympia, WA → Anchorage, AK
Roughly even
Buying power −1.7%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
64 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Anchorage, AK is in the State of Alaska pay area; Olympia, WA is in Seattle-Tacoma, WA. The last column shows what a transfer from Anchorage, AK to Olympia, WA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Anchorage, AK | Olympia, WA | Real change, Anchorage → Olympia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,789 | $69,373 | +1.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,439 | $83,935 | +1.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $101,206 | $100,602 | +1.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,348 | $119,630 | +1.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $142,216 | $141,367 | +1.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Anchorage, AK | Olympia, WA | Olympia pay in Anchorage dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,270 | $104,650 | $106,417 (+34.2%) |
| Software Developers | $104,030 | $124,060 | $126,154 (+21.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,150 | $94,470 | $96,065 (+16.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $115,290 | $125,020 | $127,130 (+10.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.