City comparison
Hartford, CT vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 6.0% higher than in Hartford, CT. Someone earning $100,000 in Hartford, CT would need about $106,000 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 $1,477 in Hartford, CT. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 24% in Hartford, CT.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,607 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Hartford, CT.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +1.4% moving from Hartford, CT to Washington, DC ($120,094 → $121,785), while prices change by +6.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.3% in real buying power.
- Hartford, CT: price level 102.7 (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
| Hartford, CT | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.7 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $105,974 in Washington | $94,363 in Hartford |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,477/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,255 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,925 (CT) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $59,940 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Hartford | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 110.2 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 97.3 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 144.9 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 102.7 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 102.7 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Hartford, CT → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.6%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$1,607/yr.
39 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Hartford, CT
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.0%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$1,607/yr.
87 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Hartford, CT is in the Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Hartford, CT to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Hartford, CT | Washington, DC | Real change, Hartford → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,642 | $70,623 | −4.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,260 | $85,447 | −4.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,992 | $102,415 | −4.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,094 | $121,785 | −4.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,915 | $143,913 | −4.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Hartford, CT | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Hartford dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,800 | $79,470 | $74,990 (−6.0%) |
| Software Developers | $132,520 | $154,930 | $146,196 (+10.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $95,940 | $102,140 | $96,382 (+0.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,470 | $102,710 | $96,920 (−4.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.