City comparison
Detroit, MI vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 8.6% higher than in Detroit, MI. Someone earning $100,000 in Detroit, MI would need about $108,600 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 $1,122 in Detroit, MI. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 18% in Detroit, MI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,532 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Detroit, MI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +3.7% moving from Detroit, MI to Washington, DC ($117,402 → $121,785), while prices change by +8.6%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.4% in real buying power.
- Detroit, MI: price level 100.3 (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
| Detroit, MI | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.3 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $108,560 in Washington | $92,115 in Detroit |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,122/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,181 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,999 (MI) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $52,080 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Detroit-Warren-Livonia, MI HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Detroit | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 94.7 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 98.8 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 107.0 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 102.6 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 100.3 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Detroit, MI → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.9%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$1,532/yr.
32 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Detroit, MI
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.6%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$1,532/yr.
96 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Detroit, MI is in the Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Detroit, MI to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Detroit, MI | Washington, DC | Real change, Detroit → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,081 | $70,623 | −4.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $82,372 | $85,447 | −4.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $98,729 | $102,415 | −4.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $117,402 | $121,785 | −4.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $138,734 | $143,913 | −4.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Detroit, MI | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Detroit dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $65,210 | $79,470 | $73,203 (+12.3%) |
| Software Developers | $130,760 | $154,930 | $142,713 (+9.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,650 | $102,140 | $94,086 (+16.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,280 | $102,710 | $94,611 (−2.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.