City comparison
Little Rock, AR vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 21.8% higher than in Little Rock, AR. Someone earning $100,000 in Little Rock, AR would need about $121,800 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 $989 in Little Rock, AR. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 16% in Little Rock, AR.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,844 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Little Rock, AR.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +14.4% moving from Little Rock, AR to Washington, DC ($106,437 → $121,785), while prices change by +21.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.1% in real buying power.
- Little Rock, AR: price level 89.4 (much 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
| Little Rock, AR | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.4 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $121,843 in Washington | $82,073 in Little Rock |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $989/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,493 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,687 (AR) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 16% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,790 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Little Rock | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 68.3 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 74.6 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 95.3 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 89.4 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Little Rock, AR → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −17.9%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$1,844/yr.
26 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Little Rock, AR
Same pay goes further
Buying power +21.8%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax −$1,844/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Little Rock, AR 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 Little Rock, AR to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Little Rock, AR | Washington, DC | Real change, Little Rock → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $70,623 | −6.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $85,447 | −6.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $102,415 | −6.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $121,785 | −6.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $143,913 | −6.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Little Rock, AR | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Little Rock dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $58,580 | $79,470 | $65,223 (+11.3%) |
| Software Developers | $104,070 | $154,930 | $127,155 (+22.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $65,810 | $102,140 | $83,829 (+27.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,070 | $102,710 | $84,297 (+4.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.