City comparison
Greensboro, NC vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 17.2% higher than in Greensboro, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Greensboro, NC would need about $117,200 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 $1,213 in Greensboro, NC. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 19% in Greensboro, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,050 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Greensboro, NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +14.4% moving from Greensboro, NC to Washington, DC ($106,437 → $121,785), while prices change by +17.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.4% in real buying power.
- Greensboro, NC: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
- 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
| Greensboro, NC | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.9 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $117,250 in Washington | $85,288 in Greensboro |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,213/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,570 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Greensboro-High Point, NC HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Greensboro-High Point, NC and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Greensboro | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 74.5 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 89.1 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 92.9 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Greensboro, NC → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −14.7%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$2,050/yr.
26 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Greensboro, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +17.2%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$2,050/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Greensboro, NC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Greensboro, NC to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Greensboro, NC | Washington, DC | Real change, Greensboro → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $70,623 | −2.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $85,447 | −2.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $102,415 | −2.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $121,785 | −2.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $143,913 | −2.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Greensboro, NC | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Greensboro dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,730 | $79,470 | $67,778 (+13.5%) |
| Software Developers | $125,190 | $154,930 | $132,137 (+5.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,170 | $102,140 | $87,113 (+8.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,860 | $102,710 | $87,599 (+5.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.