City comparison
Tuscaloosa, AL vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 24.1% higher than in Tuscaloosa, AL. Someone earning $100,000 in Tuscaloosa, AL would need about $124,100 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 $972 in Tuscaloosa, AL. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 16% in Tuscaloosa, AL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $797 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Tuscaloosa, AL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +13.3% moving from Tuscaloosa, AL to Washington, DC ($107,510 → $121,785), while prices change by +24.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −8.7% in real buying power.
- Tuscaloosa, AL: price level 87.7 (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
| Tuscaloosa, AL | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 87.7 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $124,124 in Washington | $80,565 in Tuscaloosa |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $972/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,445 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,735 (AL) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 16% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,220 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Tuscaloosa, AL HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Tuscaloosa, AL and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Tuscaloosa | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 58.2 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 96.4 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 84.4 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 96.7 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 87.7 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Tuscaloosa, AL → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −19.4%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$797/yr.
26 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Tuscaloosa, AL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +24.1%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax −$797/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Tuscaloosa, AL is in the Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Tuscaloosa, AL to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Tuscaloosa, AL | Washington, DC | Real change, Tuscaloosa → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,344 | $70,623 | −8.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,431 | $85,447 | −8.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,410 | $102,415 | −8.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,510 | $121,785 | −8.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,044 | $143,913 | −8.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Tuscaloosa, AL | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Tuscaloosa dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,220 | $79,470 | $64,025 (+6.3%) |
| Software Developers | $104,870 | $154,930 | $124,819 (+19.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $71,690 | $102,140 | $82,289 (+14.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $75,250 | $102,710 | $82,748 (+10.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.