City comparison
Atlanta, GA vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 8.8% higher than in Atlanta, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Atlanta, GA would need about $108,800 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 $1,660 in Atlanta, GA. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 27% in Atlanta, GA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $964 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Atlanta, GA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +8.2% moving from Atlanta, GA to Washington, DC ($112,556 → $121,785), while prices change by +8.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −0.6% in real buying power.
- Atlanta, GA: price level 100.1 (about average)
- 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
| Atlanta, GA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.1 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $108,821 in Washington | $91,894 in Atlanta |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,660/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 27% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,170 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA-AL | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Atlanta | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 111.0 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 100.4 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 96.2 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 96.7 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 100.1 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Atlanta, GA → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.1%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$964/yr.
32 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Atlanta, GA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.8%; rent takes 27% of take-home; state tax −$964/yr.
94 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Atlanta, GA is in the Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA-AL pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Atlanta, GA to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Atlanta, GA | Washington, DC | Real change, Atlanta → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $65,271 | $70,623 | −0.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,972 | $85,447 | −0.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $94,654 | $102,415 | −0.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $112,556 | $121,785 | −0.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $133,007 | $143,913 | −0.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Atlanta, GA | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Atlanta dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,570 | $79,470 | $73,028 (−4.6%) |
| Software Developers | $132,960 | $154,930 | $142,372 (+7.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,820 | $102,140 | $93,861 (+9.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $100,490 | $102,710 | $94,384 (−6.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.