City comparison
South Bend, IN vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 17.3% higher than in South Bend, IN. Someone earning $100,000 in South Bend, IN would need about $117,300 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 $1,105 in South Bend, IN. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 17% in South Bend, IN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,611 a year higher in Washington, DC than in South Bend, IN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +14.4% moving from South Bend, IN to Washington, DC ($106,437 → $121,785), while prices change by +17.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.4% in real buying power.
- South Bend, IN: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
- 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
| South Bend, IN | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.9 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $117,259 in Washington | $85,282 in South Bend |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,105/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,260 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,921 (IN) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,540 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: South Bend-Mishawaka, IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | South Bend | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 74.6 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 94.2 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 87.7 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 99.2 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 92.9 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
South Bend, IN → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −14.7%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$2,611/yr.
26 Weak offer
Washington, DC → South Bend, IN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +17.3%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$2,611/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
South Bend, IN is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from South Bend, IN to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | South Bend, IN | Washington, DC | Real change, South Bend → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $70,623 | −2.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $85,447 | −2.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $102,415 | −2.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $121,785 | −2.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $143,913 | −2.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | South Bend, IN | Washington, DC | Washington pay in South Bend dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $58,180 | $79,470 | $67,773 (+16.5%) |
| Software Developers | $95,500 | $154,930 | $132,127 (+38.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,940 | $102,140 | $87,107 (+11.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $93,540 | $102,710 | $87,593 (−6.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.