City vs city
Washington, DC vs Los Angeles
$100,000 in Washington, DC buys a lifestyle closer to $98,000 in Los Angeles, because Los Angeles's cost-of-living index is 149 versus 152.
Washington, DC
Federal and contractor pay is high. DC’s own income tax is steep at the top.
- COL index
- 152
- Typical 1-bed
- $2,500/mo
- Comfortable salary
- $129,000
- $100k take-home
- $73,649
Los Angeles
Large, spread-out, and car-dependent. Housing and insurance push costs well above the US average.
- COL index
- 149
- Typical 1-bed
- $2,550/mo
- Comfortable salary
- $127,000
- $100k take-home
- $73,957
More comparisons: vs New York Cityvs San Franciscovs San Josevs Oaklandvs Los Angelesvs San Diego