City comparison
Anchorage, AK vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 3.3% higher than in Anchorage, AK. Someone earning $100,000 in Anchorage, AK would need about $103,300 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 $1,243 in Anchorage, AK. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 19% in Anchorage, AK.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,532 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Anchorage, AK.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +1.2% moving from Anchorage, AK to Washington, DC ($120,348 → $121,785), while prices change by +3.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.0% in real buying power.
- Anchorage, AK: price level 105.4 (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
| Anchorage, AK | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.4 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $103,286 in Washington | $96,819 in Anchorage |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,243/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (AK) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $60,200 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | State of Alaska | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Anchorage, AK HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Anchorage, AK and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Anchorage | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 109.9 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 107.3 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 111.8 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 103.3 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 105.4 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Anchorage, AK → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.2%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$5,532/yr.
47 Fair offer
Washington, DC → Anchorage, AK
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.3%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$5,532/yr.
79 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Anchorage, AK is in the State of Alaska pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Anchorage, AK to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Anchorage, AK | Washington, DC | Real change, Anchorage → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,789 | $70,623 | −2.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,439 | $85,447 | −2.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $101,206 | $102,415 | −2.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,348 | $121,785 | −2.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $142,216 | $143,913 | −2.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Anchorage, AK | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Anchorage dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,270 | $79,470 | $76,942 (−2.9%) |
| Software Developers | $104,030 | $154,930 | $150,001 (+44.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,150 | $102,140 | $98,891 (+20.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $115,290 | $102,710 | $99,442 (−13.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.