City comparison
Montgomery, AL vs Olympia, WA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Olympia, WA are 15.6% higher than in Montgomery, AL. Someone earning $100,000 in Montgomery, AL would need about $115,600 in Olympia, WA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,682 a month in Olympia, WA versus $870 in Montgomery, AL. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Olympia, WA and 14% in Montgomery, AL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,735 a year higher in Montgomery, AL than in Olympia, WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +12.4% moving from Montgomery, AL to Olympia, WA ($106,437 → $119,630), while prices change by +15.6%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.8% in real buying power.
- Montgomery, AL: price level 89.7 (much cheaper)
- Olympia, WA: price level 103.7 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Montgomery, AL | Olympia, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.7 | 103.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $115,597 in Olympia | $86,507 in Montgomery |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $870/mo | $1,682/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,445 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,735 (AL) | $0 (WA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $44,950 | $61,960 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Seattle-Tacoma, WA |
Rent areas: Montgomery, AL MSA and Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA MSA. Metro areas: Montgomery, AL and Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Montgomery | Olympia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 64.3 | 116.7 |
| Goods | 96.4 | 105.0 |
| Utilities | 84.9 | 91.7 |
| Other services | 96.7 | 99.5 |
| Overall | 89.7 | 103.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Montgomery, AL → Olympia, WA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −13.5%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$4,735/yr.
37 Weak offer
Olympia, WA → Montgomery, AL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +15.6%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$4,735/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Montgomery, AL is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Olympia, WA is in Seattle-Tacoma, WA. The last column shows what a transfer from Montgomery, AL to Olympia, WA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Montgomery, AL | Olympia, WA | Real change, Montgomery → Olympia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,373 | −2.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $83,935 | −2.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $100,602 | −2.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $119,630 | −2.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $141,367 | −2.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Montgomery, AL | Olympia, WA | Olympia pay in Montgomery dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,610 | $104,650 | $90,530 (+51.9%) |
| Software Developers | $110,620 | $124,060 | $107,321 (−3.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,040 | $94,470 | $81,723 (+8.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,570 | $125,020 | $108,151 (+35.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.