City comparison
Riverside, CA vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 2.3% higher than in Riverside, CA. Someone earning $100,000 in Riverside, CA would need about $102,300 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 $1,777 in Riverside, CA. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 29% in Riverside, CA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $461 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Riverside, CA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.9% moving from Riverside, CA to Washington, DC ($124,085 → $121,785), while prices change by +2.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.1% in real buying power.
- Riverside, CA: price level 106.4 (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
| Riverside, CA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 106.4 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $102,294 in Washington | $97,757 in Riverside |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,777/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 29% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,400 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Riverside | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 129.3 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 101.4 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 148.6 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 101.3 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 106.4 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Riverside, CA → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.2%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$461/yr.
50 Fair offer
Washington, DC → Riverside, CA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.3%; rent takes 29% of take-home; state tax −$461/yr.
70 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Riverside, CA is in the Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Riverside, CA to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Riverside, CA | Washington, DC | Real change, Riverside → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $71,957 | $70,623 | −4.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $87,061 | $85,447 | −4.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $104,349 | $102,415 | −4.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $124,085 | $121,785 | −4.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $146,632 | $143,913 | −4.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Riverside, CA | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Riverside dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $98,520 | $79,470 | $77,688 (−21.1%) |
| Software Developers | $133,270 | $154,930 | $151,455 (+13.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,920 | $102,140 | $99,849 (+19.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $133,940 | $102,710 | $100,406 (−25.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.