City comparison
Philadelphia, PA vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 6.2% higher than in Philadelphia, PA. Someone earning $100,000 in Philadelphia, PA would need about $106,200 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 $1,520 in Philadelphia, PA. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 24% in Philadelphia, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,462 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Philadelphia, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +3.8% moving from Philadelphia, PA to Washington, DC ($117,284 → $121,785), while prices change by +6.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.2% in real buying power.
- Philadelphia, PA: price level 102.6 (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
| Philadelphia, PA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.6 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $106,172 in Washington | $94,186 in Philadelphia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,520/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $54,310 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Philadelphia | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 113.1 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 114.4 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 103.1 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 102.6 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Philadelphia, PA → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.8%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$2,462/yr.
39 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Philadelphia, PA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.2%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$2,462/yr.
88 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Philadelphia, PA is in the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Philadelphia, PA to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Philadelphia, PA | Washington, DC | Real change, Philadelphia → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,013 | $70,623 | −2.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $82,289 | $85,447 | −2.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $98,630 | $102,415 | −2.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $117,284 | $121,785 | −2.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $138,595 | $143,913 | −2.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Philadelphia, PA | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Philadelphia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,570 | $79,470 | $74,850 (−4.7%) |
| Software Developers | $133,040 | $154,930 | $145,923 (+9.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,990 | $102,140 | $96,202 (+11.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,180 | $102,710 | $96,739 (−4.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.