City comparison
Pittsburgh, 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 15.0% higher than in Pittsburgh, PA. Someone earning $100,000 in Pittsburgh, PA would need about $115,000 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 $1,077 in Pittsburgh, PA. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 17% in Pittsburgh, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,462 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Pittsburgh, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +10.7% moving from Pittsburgh, PA to Washington, DC ($110,047 → $121,785), while prices change by +15.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.8% in real buying power.
- Pittsburgh, PA: price level 94.7 (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
| Pittsburgh, PA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 94.7 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $115,013 in Washington | $86,947 in Pittsburgh |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,077/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 | 17% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,650 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Pittsburgh, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Pittsburgh, PA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Pittsburgh | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 72.0 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 100.7 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 107.7 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 97.7 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 94.7 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Pittsburgh, PA → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −13.1%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$2,462/yr.
26 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Pittsburgh, PA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +15.0%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$2,462/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Pittsburgh, PA is in the Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Pittsburgh, PA to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Pittsburgh, PA | Washington, DC | Real change, Pittsburgh → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,815 | $70,623 | −3.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,211 | $85,447 | −3.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,543 | $102,415 | −3.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $110,047 | $121,785 | −3.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $130,042 | $143,913 | −3.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Pittsburgh, PA | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Pittsburgh dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,550 | $79,470 | $69,097 (−9.7%) |
| Software Developers | $124,500 | $154,930 | $134,706 (+8.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,940 | $102,140 | $88,807 (+15.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,370 | $102,710 | $89,303 (+8.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.