City comparison
Clarksville, TN vs Spokane, WA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Spokane, WA are 10.3% higher than in Clarksville, TN. Someone earning $100,000 in Clarksville, TN would need about $110,300 in Spokane, WA to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,193 a month in Spokane, WA versus $1,094 in Clarksville, TN. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Spokane, WA and 17% in Clarksville, TN.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $0 a year in TN and $0 in WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.5% moving from Clarksville, TN to Spokane, WA ($106,437 → $106,991), while prices change by +10.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −8.9% in real buying power.
- Clarksville, TN: price level 90.9 (much cheaper)
- Spokane, WA: price level 100.3 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Clarksville, TN | Spokane, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 90.9 | 100.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $110,335 in Spokane | $90,633 in Clarksville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,094/mo | $1,193/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TN) | $0 (WA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $44,860 | $54,660 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID |
Rent areas: Clarksville, TN-KY HUD Metro FMR Area and Spokane, WA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Clarksville, TN-KY and Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Clarksville | Spokane |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 73.8 | 97.1 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 105.0 |
| Utilities | 72.5 | 91.2 |
| Other services | 95.5 | 99.5 |
| Overall | 90.9 | 100.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Clarksville, TN → Spokane, WA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −9.4%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
39 Weak offer
Spokane, WA → Clarksville, TN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +10.3%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Clarksville, TN is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Spokane, WA is in Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID. The last column shows what a transfer from Clarksville, TN to Spokane, WA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Clarksville, TN | Spokane, WA | Real change, Clarksville → Spokane |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,044 | −8.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,068 | −8.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,974 | −8.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,991 | −8.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $126,432 | −8.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Clarksville, TN | Spokane, WA | Spokane pay in Clarksville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,760 | $98,800 | $89,546 (+49.8%) |
| Software Developers | $96,650 | $130,690 | $118,449 (+22.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $72,760 | $86,350 | $78,262 (+7.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,450 | $111,750 | $101,283 (+27.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.