City comparison
Tampa, FL vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 7.9% higher than in Tampa, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Tampa, FL would need about $107,900 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 $1,696 in Tampa, FL. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 26% in Tampa, FL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,532 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Tampa, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +14.4% moving from Tampa, FL to Washington, DC ($106,437 → $121,785), while prices change by +7.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +6.0% in real buying power.
- Tampa, FL: price level 100.9 (about average)
- 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
| Tampa, FL | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.9 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $107,923 in Washington | $92,658 in Tampa |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,696/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,940 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Tampa | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 125.8 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 95.5 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 88.5 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 97.6 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 100.9 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Tampa, FL → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.3%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$5,532/yr.
34 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Tampa, FL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.9%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax −$5,532/yr.
92 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Tampa, FL 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 Tampa, FL to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Tampa, FL | Washington, DC | Real change, Tampa → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $70,623 | +6.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $85,447 | +6.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $102,415 | +6.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $121,785 | +6.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $143,913 | +6.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Tampa, FL | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Tampa dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,120 | $79,470 | $73,636 (+22.5%) |
| Software Developers | $130,450 | $154,930 | $143,555 (+10.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,990 | $102,140 | $94,641 (+19.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $85,470 | $102,710 | $95,169 (+11.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.