City comparison
Peoria, IL vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 19.3% higher than in Peoria, IL. Someone earning $100,000 in Peoria, IL would need about $119,300 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 $818 in Peoria, IL. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 13% in Peoria, IL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $726 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Peoria, IL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +14.4% moving from Peoria, IL to Washington, DC ($106,437 → $121,785), while prices change by +19.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.1% in real buying power.
- Peoria, IL: price level 91.2 (much cheaper)
- 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
| Peoria, IL | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.2 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $119,350 in Washington | $83,787 in Peoria |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $818/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,375 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,805 (IL) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 13% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,590 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Peoria, IL MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Peoria, IL and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Peoria | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 63.8 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 90.5 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 91.2 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Peoria, IL → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −16.2%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$726/yr.
26 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Peoria, IL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +19.3%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax −$726/yr.
100 Strong offer
Federal employees: GS pay
Peoria, IL is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Peoria, IL to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Peoria, IL | Washington, DC | Real change, Peoria → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $70,623 | −4.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $85,447 | −4.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $102,415 | −4.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $121,785 | −4.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $143,913 | −4.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Peoria, IL | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Peoria dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $132,090 | $148,950 | $124,801 (−5.5%) |
| Software Developers | $130,590 | $154,930 | $129,812 (−0.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,540 | $102,140 | $85,580 (+7.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,010 | $102,710 | $86,058 (+6.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.