City comparison
New Haven, 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 4.1% higher than in New Haven, CT. Someone earning $100,000 in New Haven, CT would need about $104,100 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 $1,591 in New Haven, CT. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 25% in New Haven, CT.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,607 a year higher in Washington, DC than in New Haven, CT.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.9% moving from New Haven, CT to Washington, DC ($125,431 → $121,785), while prices change by +4.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.8% in real buying power.
- New Haven, CT: price level 104.6 (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
| New Haven, CT | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 104.6 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,136 in Washington | $96,028 in New Haven |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,591/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 | 25% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $60,060 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: New Haven, CT MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: New Haven, CT and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | New Haven | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 124.3 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 97.3 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 144.8 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 102.7 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 104.6 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
New Haven, CT → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.0%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$1,607/yr.
45 Weak offer
Washington, DC → New Haven, CT
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.1%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$1,607/yr.
81 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
New Haven, CT is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from New Haven, CT to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | New Haven, CT | Washington, DC | Real change, New Haven → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $70,623 | −6.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $85,447 | −6.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $102,415 | −6.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $121,785 | −6.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $143,913 | −6.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | New Haven, CT | Washington, DC | Washington pay in New Haven dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,820 | $79,470 | $76,313 (−4.4%) |
| Software Developers | $133,040 | $154,930 | $148,776 (+11.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $94,960 | $102,140 | $98,083 (+3.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $104,490 | $102,710 | $98,630 (−5.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.