City comparison
Portland, OR vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 3.3% higher than in Portland, OR. Someone earning $100,000 in Portland, OR would need about $103,300 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 $1,677 in Portland, OR. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 28% in Portland, OR.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,389 a year higher in Portland, OR than in Washington, DC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +6.2% moving from Portland, OR to Washington, DC ($114,684 → $121,785), while prices change by +3.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.8% in real buying power.
- Portland, OR: price level 105.4 (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
| Portland, OR | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.4 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $103,285 in Washington | $96,820 in Portland |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,677/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 28% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $60,690 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Portland | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 125.1 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 107.0 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 100.1 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 105.4 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Portland, OR → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.2%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax −$2,389/yr.
47 Fair offer
Washington, DC → Portland, OR
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.3%; rent takes 28% of take-home; state tax +$2,389/yr.
74 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Portland, OR is in the Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Portland, OR to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Portland, OR | Washington, DC | Real change, Portland → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $66,505 | $70,623 | +2.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $80,465 | $85,447 | +2.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $96,443 | $102,415 | +2.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $114,684 | $121,785 | +2.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $135,522 | $143,913 | +2.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Portland, OR | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Portland dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $82,330 | $79,470 | $76,942 (−6.5%) |
| Software Developers | $156,000 | $154,930 | $150,003 (−3.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $92,200 | $102,140 | $98,891 (+7.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $130,310 | $102,710 | $99,443 (−23.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.