City comparison
Olympia, WA vs Richmond, VA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Olympia, WA are 5.9% higher than in Richmond, VA. Someone earning $100,000 in Richmond, VA would need about $105,900 in Olympia, WA to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,682 a month in Olympia, WA versus $1,507 in Richmond, VA. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Olympia, WA and 24% in Richmond, VA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,936 a year higher in Richmond, VA than in Olympia, WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −7.1% moving from Olympia, WA to Richmond, VA ($119,630 → $111,183), while prices change by −5.6%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.5% in real buying power.
- Olympia, WA: price level 103.7 (pricier)
- Richmond, VA: price level 97.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Olympia, WA | Richmond, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.7 | 97.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,394 in Richmond | $105,939 in Olympia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,682/mo | $1,507/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,244 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (WA) | $4,936 (VA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $61,960 | $51,460 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Seattle-Tacoma, WA | Richmond, VA |
Rent areas: Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA MSA and Richmond, VA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA and Richmond, VA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Olympia | Richmond |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 116.7 | 99.1 |
| Goods | 105.0 | 96.8 |
| Utilities | 91.7 | 89.2 |
| Other services | 99.5 | 98.6 |
| Overall | 103.7 | 97.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Olympia, WA → Richmond, VA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.9%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$4,936/yr.
87 Strong offer
Richmond, VA → Olympia, WA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.6%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$4,936/yr.
50 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Olympia, WA is in the Seattle-Tacoma, WA pay area; Richmond, VA is in Richmond, VA. The last column shows what a transfer from Olympia, WA to Richmond, VA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Olympia, WA | Richmond, VA | Real change, Olympia → Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,373 | $64,475 | −1.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,935 | $78,009 | −1.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,602 | $93,499 | −1.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $119,630 | $111,183 | −1.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,367 | $131,385 | −1.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Olympia, WA | Richmond, VA | Richmond pay in Olympia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $104,650 | $61,290 | $64,930 (−38.0%) |
| Software Developers | $124,060 | $132,120 | $139,967 (+12.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $94,470 | $84,220 | $89,222 (−5.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $125,020 | $93,580 | $99,138 (−20.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.