City comparison
Austin, TX vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 11.0% higher than in Austin, TX. Someone earning $100,000 in Austin, TX would need about $111,000 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 $1,562 in Austin, TX. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 24% in Austin, TX.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,532 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Austin, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +11.3% moving from Austin, TX to Washington, DC ($109,428 → $121,785), while prices change by +11.0%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.2% in real buying power.
- Austin, TX: price level 98.1 (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
| Austin, TX | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.1 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $111,031 in Washington | $90,065 in Austin |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,562/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $56,950 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Austin | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 120.4 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 82.0 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 98.1 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Austin, TX → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −9.9%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$5,532/yr.
26 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Austin, TX
Same pay goes further
Buying power +11.0%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$5,532/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Austin, TX is in the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Austin, TX to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Austin, TX | Washington, DC | Real change, Austin → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,457 | $70,623 | +0.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,777 | $85,447 | +0.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,023 | $102,415 | +0.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,428 | $121,785 | +0.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,311 | $143,913 | +0.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Austin, TX | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Austin dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,270 | $79,470 | $71,574 (+16.8%) |
| Software Developers | $134,120 | $154,930 | $139,537 (+4.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,120 | $102,140 | $91,992 (+10.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,890 | $102,710 | $92,505 (−5.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.