City comparison
Visalia, CA 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 9.1% higher than in Visalia, CA. Someone earning $100,000 in Visalia, CA would need about $109,100 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 $1,123 in Visalia, CA. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 18% in Visalia, CA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $461 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Visalia, CA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +13.8% moving from Visalia, CA to Washington, DC ($106,973 → $121,785), while prices change by +9.1%. Net effect of the transfer: +4.4% in real buying power.
- Visalia, CA: price level 99.8 (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
| Visalia, CA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.8 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $109,075 in Washington | $91,680 in Visalia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,123/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 | 18% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,130 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Visalia, CA MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Visalia, CA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Visalia | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.1 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 156.4 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 99.8 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Visalia, CA → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.3%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$461/yr.
31 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Visalia, CA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +9.1%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$461/yr.
97 Strong offer
Federal employees: GS pay
Visalia, CA is in the Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Visalia, CA to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Visalia, CA | Washington, DC | Real change, Visalia → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,033 | $70,623 | +4.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,055 | $85,447 | +4.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,959 | $102,415 | +4.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,973 | $121,785 | +4.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,410 | $143,913 | +4.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Visalia, CA | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Visalia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | not published | $148,950 | — |
| Software Developers | $126,170 | $154,930 | $142,040 (+12.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,400 | $102,140 | $93,642 (+17.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $125,180 | $102,710 | $94,165 (−24.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.