City comparison
Las Vegas, NV vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 8.7% higher than in Las Vegas, NV. Someone earning $100,000 in Las Vegas, NV would need about $108,700 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 $1,478 in Las Vegas, NV. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 22% in Las Vegas, NV.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,532 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Las Vegas, NV.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +12.0% moving from Las Vegas, NV to Washington, DC ($108,719 → $121,785), while prices change by +8.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.1% in real buying power.
- Las Vegas, NV: price level 100.2 (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
| Las Vegas, NV | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.2 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $108,650 in Washington | $92,038 in Las Vegas |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,478/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (NV) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,670 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Las Vegas-Henderson, NV-AZ | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Las Vegas | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 115.5 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 90.6 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 98.7 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 100.2 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Las Vegas, NV → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.0%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$5,532/yr.
32 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Las Vegas, NV
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.7%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$5,532/yr.
96 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Las Vegas, NV is in the Las Vegas-Henderson, NV-AZ pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Las Vegas, NV to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Las Vegas, NV | Washington, DC | Real change, Las Vegas → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,046 | $70,623 | +3.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,280 | $85,447 | +3.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,427 | $102,415 | +3.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,719 | $121,785 | +3.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $128,473 | $143,913 | +3.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Las Vegas, NV | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Las Vegas dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $65,040 | $79,470 | $73,143 (+12.5%) |
| Software Developers | $129,940 | $154,930 | $142,595 (+9.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,530 | $102,140 | $94,008 (+16.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $103,940 | $102,710 | $94,533 (−9.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.