City comparison
Washington, DC vs Youngstown, OH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 24.6% higher than in Youngstown, OH. Someone earning $100,000 in Youngstown, OH would need about $124,600 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 $771 in Youngstown, OH. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 12% in Youngstown, OH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,564 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Youngstown, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −8.7% moving from Washington, DC to Youngstown, OH ($121,785 → $111,138), while prices change by −19.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +13.7% in real buying power.
- Washington, DC: price level 108.9 (much pricier)
- Youngstown, OH: price level 87.4 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Washington, DC | Youngstown, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 108.9 | 87.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $80,263 in Youngstown | $124,590 in Washington |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $2,015/mo | $771/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $73,649 | $77,212 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,532 (DC) | $1,968 (OH) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 33% | 12% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $71,060 | $43,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA |
Rent areas: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area and Youngstown-Warren, OH MSA. Metro areas: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV and Youngstown-Warren, OH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Washington | Youngstown |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 151.1 | 53.4 |
| Goods | 104.8 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 106.7 | 96.3 |
| Other services | 102.3 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 108.9 | 87.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Washington, DC → Youngstown, OH
Same pay goes further
Buying power +24.6%; rent takes 12% of take-home; state tax −$3,564/yr.
100 Strong offer
Youngstown, OH → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −19.7%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$3,564/yr.
26 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Washington, DC is in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA pay area; Youngstown, OH is in Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Washington, DC to Youngstown, OH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Washington, DC | Youngstown, OH | Real change, Washington → Youngstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,623 | $64,448 | +13.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,447 | $77,977 | +13.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,415 | $93,461 | +13.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,785 | $111,138 | +13.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,913 | $131,331 | +13.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Washington, DC | Youngstown, OH | Youngstown pay in Washington dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,470 | $72,560 | $90,402 (+13.8%) |
| Software Developers | $154,930 | $107,990 | $134,545 (−13.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $102,140 | $73,080 | $91,050 (−10.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $102,710 | $78,680 | $98,027 (−4.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.