City comparison
Memphis, TN vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 18.1% higher than in Memphis, TN. Someone earning $100,000 in Memphis, TN would need about $118,100 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 $1,154 in Memphis, TN. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 17% in Memphis, TN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,532 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Memphis, TN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +14.4% moving from Memphis, TN to Washington, DC ($106,437 → $121,785), while prices change by +18.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.1% in real buying power.
- Memphis, TN: price level 92.2 (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
| Memphis, TN | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.2 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $118,122 in Washington | $84,658 in Memphis |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,154/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TN) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,890 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Memphis, TN-MS-AR HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Memphis, TN-MS-AR and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Memphis | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 79.8 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 74.1 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 95.4 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 92.2 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Memphis, TN → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −15.3%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$5,532/yr.
26 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Memphis, TN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +18.1%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$5,532/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Memphis, TN 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 Memphis, TN to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Memphis, TN | Washington, DC | Real change, Memphis → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $70,623 | −3.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $85,447 | −3.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $102,415 | −3.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $121,785 | −3.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $143,913 | −3.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Memphis, TN | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Memphis dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,510 | $79,470 | $67,278 (+9.4%) |
| Software Developers | $125,580 | $154,930 | $131,161 (+4.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,960 | $102,140 | $86,470 (+12.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,500 | $102,710 | $86,952 (+6.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.