City comparison
Reno, NV vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 7.8% higher than in Reno, NV. Someone earning $100,000 in Reno, NV would need about $107,800 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 $1,489 in Reno, NV. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 23% in Reno, NV.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,532 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Reno, NV.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +14.0% moving from Reno, NV to Washington, DC ($106,855 → $121,785), while prices change by +7.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +5.7% in real buying power.
- Reno, NV: price level 101.0 (about average)
- 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
| Reno, NV | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $107,791 in Washington | $92,772 in Reno |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,489/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (NV) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,660 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Reno-Fernley, NV | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Reno, NV HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Reno, NV and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Reno | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 123.5 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 89.3 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 98.7 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Reno, NV → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.2%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$5,532/yr.
34 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Reno, NV
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.8%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$5,532/yr.
93 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Reno, NV is in the Reno-Fernley, NV pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Reno, NV to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Reno, NV | Washington, DC | Real change, Reno → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,965 | $70,623 | +5.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,972 | $85,447 | +5.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,859 | $102,415 | +5.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,855 | $121,785 | +5.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,271 | $143,913 | +5.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Reno, NV | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Reno dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,430 | $79,470 | $73,726 (+18.1%) |
| Software Developers | $125,710 | $154,930 | $143,732 (+14.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,370 | $102,140 | $94,757 (+15.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $107,520 | $102,710 | $95,286 (−11.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.