City comparison
Olympia, WA vs Phoenix, AZ
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Olympia, WA (103.7) and Phoenix, AZ (103.3, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Olympia, WA goes as far as $99,700 in Phoenix, AZ.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,682 a month in Olympia, WA versus $1,583 in Phoenix, AZ. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Olympia, WA and 25% in Phoenix, AZ.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,291 a year higher in Phoenix, AZ than in Olympia, WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −6.9% moving from Olympia, WA to Phoenix, AZ ($119,630 → $111,338), while prices change by −0.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.6% in real buying power.
- Olympia, WA: price level 103.7 (pricier)
- Phoenix, AZ: price level 103.3 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Olympia, WA | Phoenix, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.7 | 103.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,659 in Phoenix | $100,343 in Olympia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,682/mo | $1,583/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $76,889 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (WA) | $2,291 (AZ) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $61,960 | $51,380 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Seattle-Tacoma, WA | Phoenix-Mesa, AZ |
Rent areas: Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA MSA and Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ MSA. Metro areas: Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA and Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Olympia | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 116.7 | 121.2 |
| Goods | 105.0 | 95.0 |
| Utilities | 91.7 | 93.3 |
| Other services | 99.5 | 104.0 |
| Overall | 103.7 | 103.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Olympia, WA → Phoenix, AZ
Roughly even
Buying power +0.3%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$2,291/yr.
70 Fair offer
Phoenix, AZ → Olympia, WA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.3%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$2,291/yr.
67 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Olympia, WA is in the Seattle-Tacoma, WA pay area; Phoenix, AZ is in Phoenix-Mesa, AZ. The last column shows what a transfer from Olympia, WA to Phoenix, AZ at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Olympia, WA | Phoenix, AZ | Real change, Olympia → Phoenix |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,373 | $64,564 | −6.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,935 | $78,117 | −6.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,602 | $93,629 | −6.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $119,630 | $111,338 | −6.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,367 | $131,568 | −6.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Olympia, WA | Phoenix, AZ | Phoenix pay in Olympia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $104,650 | $59,180 | $59,383 (−43.3%) |
| Software Developers | $124,060 | $131,750 | $132,201 (+6.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $94,470 | $80,820 | $81,097 (−14.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $125,020 | $100,830 | $101,175 (−19.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.