City comparison
Springfield, MO vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 22.9% higher than in Springfield, MO. Someone earning $100,000 in Springfield, MO would need about $122,900 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 $883 in Springfield, MO. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 14% in Springfield, MO.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,769 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Springfield, MO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +14.4% moving from Springfield, MO to Washington, DC ($106,437 → $121,785), while prices change by +22.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.9% in real buying power.
- Springfield, MO: price level 88.6 (much 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
| Springfield, MO | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 88.6 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $122,915 in Washington | $81,357 in Springfield |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $883/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,417 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,763 (MO) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,780 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Springfield, MO HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Springfield, MO and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Springfield | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 65.6 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 94.2 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 85.8 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 93.0 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 88.6 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Springfield, MO → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −18.6%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$1,769/yr.
26 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Springfield, MO
Same pay goes further
Buying power +22.9%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$1,769/yr.
100 Strong offer
Federal employees: GS pay
Springfield, MO 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 Springfield, MO to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Springfield, MO | Washington, DC | Real change, Springfield → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $70,623 | −6.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $85,447 | −6.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $102,415 | −6.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $121,785 | −6.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $143,913 | −6.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Springfield, MO | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Springfield dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $84,690 | $148,950 | $121,182 (+43.1%) |
| Software Developers | $102,350 | $154,930 | $126,047 (+23.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $73,020 | $102,140 | $83,098 (+13.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,370 | $102,710 | $83,562 (+5.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.