City comparison
Richmond, VA vs Youngstown, OH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Richmond, VA are 12.0% higher than in Youngstown, OH. Someone earning $100,000 in Youngstown, OH would need about $112,000 in Richmond, VA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,507 a month in Richmond, VA versus $771 in Youngstown, OH. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Richmond, VA and 12% in Youngstown, OH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,968 a year higher in Richmond, VA than in Youngstown, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.0% moving from Richmond, VA to Youngstown, OH ($111,183 → $111,138), while prices change by −10.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +11.9% in real buying power.
- Richmond, VA: price level 97.9 (cheaper)
- Youngstown, OH: price level 87.4 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Richmond, VA | Youngstown, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.9 | 87.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $89,307 in Youngstown | $111,973 in Richmond |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,507/mo | $771/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,244 | $77,212 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,936 (VA) | $1,968 (OH) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 12% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,460 | $43,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Richmond, VA | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA |
Rent areas: Richmond, VA HUD Metro FMR Area and Youngstown-Warren, OH MSA. Metro areas: Richmond, VA and Youngstown-Warren, OH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Richmond | Youngstown |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 99.1 | 53.4 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 96.3 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 97.9 | 87.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Richmond, VA → Youngstown, OH
Same pay goes further
Buying power +12.0%; rent takes 12% of take-home; state tax −$2,968/yr.
100 Strong offer
Youngstown, OH → Richmond, VA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −10.7%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$2,968/yr.
38 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Richmond, VA is in the Richmond, VA pay area; Youngstown, OH is in Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Richmond, VA to Youngstown, OH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Richmond, VA | Youngstown, OH | Real change, Richmond → Youngstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,475 | $64,448 | +11.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,009 | $77,977 | +11.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,499 | $93,461 | +11.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,183 | $111,138 | +11.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,385 | $131,331 | +11.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Richmond, VA | Youngstown, OH | Youngstown pay in Richmond dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,290 | $72,560 | $81,248 (+32.6%) |
| Software Developers | $132,120 | $107,990 | $120,920 (−8.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,220 | $73,080 | $81,830 (−2.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $93,580 | $78,680 | $88,101 (−5.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.