City comparison
Boston, MA vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Boston, MA (108.3) and Washington, DC (108.9, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Boston, MA goes as far as $100,600 in Washington, DC.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,476 a month in Boston, MA versus $2,015 in Washington, DC. On $100,000, that's 40% of take-home pay in Boston, MA and 33% in Washington, DC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $752 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Boston, MA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +1.0% moving from Boston, MA to Washington, DC ($120,548 → $121,785), while prices change by +0.6%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.5% in real buying power.
- Boston, MA: price level 108.3 (much 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
| Boston, MA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 108.3 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,571 in Washington | $99,432 in Boston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $2,476/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,400 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,780 (MA) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 40% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $66,620 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Boston | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 148.4 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 148.8 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 103.6 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 108.3 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Boston, MA → Washington, DC
Roughly even
Buying power −0.6%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$752/yr.
55 Fair offer
Washington, DC → Boston, MA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.6%; rent takes 40% of take-home; state tax −$752/yr.
48 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Boston, MA is in the Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Boston, MA to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Boston, MA | Washington, DC | Real change, Boston → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,905 | $70,623 | +0.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,579 | $85,447 | +0.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $101,375 | $102,415 | +0.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,548 | $121,785 | +0.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $142,452 | $143,913 | +0.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Boston, MA | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Boston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $98,060 | $79,470 | $79,019 (−19.4%) |
| Software Developers | $166,090 | $154,930 | $154,051 (−7.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $100,150 | $102,140 | $101,560 (+1.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $106,180 | $102,710 | $102,127 (−3.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.