City comparison
Olympia, WA vs Orlando, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Olympia, WA are 2.2% higher than in Orlando, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Orlando, FL would need about $102,200 in Olympia, WA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,682 a month in Olympia, WA and $1,731 in Orlando, FL.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $0 a year in WA and $0 in FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −11.0% moving from Olympia, WA to Orlando, FL ($119,630 → $106,437), while prices change by −2.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −9.1% in real buying power.
- Olympia, WA: price level 103.7 (pricier)
- Orlando, FL: price level 101.4 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Olympia, WA | Orlando, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.7 | 101.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,828 in Orlando | $102,221 in Olympia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,682/mo | $1,731/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (WA) | $0 (FL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $61,960 | $46,630 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Seattle-Tacoma, WA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA MSA and Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL MSA. Metro areas: Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA and Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Olympia | Orlando |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 116.7 | 123.4 |
| Goods | 105.0 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 91.7 | 87.2 |
| Other services | 99.5 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 103.7 | 101.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Olympia, WA → Orlando, FL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.2%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
74 Strong offer
Orlando, FL → Olympia, WA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.2%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
61 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Olympia, WA is in the Seattle-Tacoma, WA pay area; Orlando, FL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Olympia, WA to Orlando, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Olympia, WA | Orlando, FL | Real change, Olympia → Orlando |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,373 | $61,722 | −9.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,935 | $74,678 | −9.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,602 | $89,508 | −9.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $119,630 | $106,437 | −9.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,367 | $125,776 | −9.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Olympia, WA | Orlando, FL | Orlando pay in Olympia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $104,650 | $60,190 | $61,527 (−41.2%) |
| Software Developers | $124,060 | $129,620 | $132,498 (+6.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $94,470 | $78,630 | $80,376 (−14.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $125,020 | $83,550 | $85,405 (−31.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.