City comparison
Boulder, CO vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 3.5% higher than in Boulder, CO. Someone earning $100,000 in Boulder, CO would need about $103,500 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 $1,795 in Boulder, CO. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 29% in Boulder, CO.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,840 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Boulder, CO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +2.6% moving from Boulder, CO to Washington, DC ($118,675 → $121,785), while prices change by +3.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −0.8% in real buying power.
- Boulder, CO: price level 105.2 (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
| Boulder, CO | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.2 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $103,500 in Washington | $96,618 in Boulder |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,795/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,488 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,692 (CO) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 29% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $69,580 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Denver-Aurora, CO | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Boulder, CO MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Boulder, CO and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Boulder | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 157.0 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 82.7 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 99.8 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 105.2 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Boulder, CO → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.4%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$1,840/yr.
46 Fair offer
Washington, DC → Boulder, CO
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.5%; rent takes 29% of take-home; state tax −$1,840/yr.
74 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Boulder, CO is in the Denver-Aurora, CO pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Boulder, CO to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Boulder, CO | Washington, DC | Real change, Boulder → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,819 | $70,623 | −0.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,265 | $85,447 | −0.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $99,800 | $102,415 | −0.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $118,675 | $121,785 | −0.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $140,239 | $143,913 | −0.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Boulder, CO | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Boulder dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $80,640 | $79,470 | $76,783 (−4.8%) |
| Software Developers | $164,560 | $154,930 | $149,691 (−9.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $99,990 | $102,140 | $98,686 (−1.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $103,290 | $102,710 | $99,237 (−3.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.