City comparison
Salinas, CA vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Salinas, CA (109.0) and Washington, DC (108.9, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Salinas, CA goes as far as $99,900 in Washington, DC.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,232 a month in Salinas, CA versus $2,015 in Washington, DC. On $100,000, that's 36% of take-home pay in Salinas, CA and 33% in Washington, DC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $461 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Salinas, CA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −8.5% moving from Salinas, CA to Washington, DC ($133,060 → $121,785), while prices change by −0.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −8.3% in real buying power.
- Salinas, CA: price level 109.0 (much 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
| Salinas, CA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 109.0 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,855 in Washington | $100,145 in Salinas |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $2,232/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 | 36% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,380 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Salinas, CA MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Salinas, CA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Salinas | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 145.7 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 154.2 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 109.0 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Salinas, CA → Washington, DC
Roughly even
Buying power +0.1%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$461/yr.
57 Fair offer
Washington, DC → Salinas, CA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.1%; rent takes 36% of take-home; state tax −$461/yr.
52 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Salinas, CA is in the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Salinas, CA to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Salinas, CA | Washington, DC | Real change, Salinas → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $77,161 | $70,623 | −8.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $93,358 | $85,447 | −8.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $111,896 | $102,415 | −8.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $133,060 | $121,785 | −8.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $157,236 | $143,913 | −8.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Salinas, CA | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Salinas dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $100,220 | $79,470 | $79,585 (−20.6%) |
| Software Developers | $135,160 | $154,930 | $155,155 (+14.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,810 | $102,140 | $102,288 (+22.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $134,910 | $102,710 | $102,859 (−23.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.