Is Washington, DC cheaper or more expensive than New York, NY?

Washington, DC (RPP 111.3) is cheaper than New York, NY (RPP 113) by about 1.5%.

What salary do I need in Washington, DC if I earn $100,000 in New York, NY?

You would need approximately $98,496 in Washington, DC to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in New York, NY. Formula: $100,000 x (111.3 / 113).

Which metro had stronger net migration, New York, NY or Washington, DC?

For 2021-2022, New York, NY had a net loss of 242,855 people, while Washington, DC had a net loss of 45,746 people. IRS small-flow suppression means these are lower-bound research signals, not complete population-change totals.

Route comparison

New York, NY vs Washington, DC: Cost of Living

Compare the cost of living between New York, NY and Washington, DC. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.

Source-verified · June 2026BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2022 (Table 4); HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents (2-BR) Official source ↗

New York, NY

Overall RPP (US=100): 113
Housing RPP: 154.2
Goods RPP: 107.6
2-BR median rent: $2,752/mo

NY state income tax 4%-10.9% + NYC city tax up to 3.876% for city residents.

Washington, DC

Overall RPP (US=100): 111.3
Housing RPP: 156.3
Goods RPP: 107.2
2-BR median rent: $2,045/mo

DC income tax 4%-10.75%. MD and VA suburbs have own state taxes.

Equivalent salary

Washington, DC is cheaper than New York, NY by about 1.5% (RPP 113 to 111.3).

$60,000 in New York, NY

-> $59,097

in Washington, DC

$100,000 in New York, NY

-> $98,496

in Washington, DC

$150,000 in New York, NY

-> $147,743

in Washington, DC

This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.

Migration signal: New York, NY vs Washington, DC

IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022

New York, NY

Net people: −242,855
Net rank: #65 of 65
Top origin share: 1%
Top destination share: 1%

Largest source: Los Angeles County, CA. Largest destination: Palm Beach County, FL.

Washington, DC

Net people: −45,746
Net rank: #61 of 65
Top origin share: 2%
Top destination share: 2%

Largest source: Anne Arundel County, MD. Largest destination: Anne Arundel County, MD.

Rent delta: Washington, DC is $707/mo lower for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than New York, NY. Housing RPP moves from 154.2 to 156.3.

Migration figures are derived from IRS SOI county-to-county migration data for 2021-2022, mapped to metros via Census CBSA delineation. Small county-to-county flows are IRS-suppressed, so per-metro totals are lower bounds. Source: IRS SOI migration data.

Frequently asked questions

Is Washington, DC cheaper or more expensive than New York, NY?: Washington, DC (RPP 111.3) is cheaper than New York, NY (RPP 113) by about 1.5%.
What salary do I need in Washington, DC if I earn $100,000 in New York, NY?: You would need approximately $98,496 in Washington, DC to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in New York, NY. Formula: $100,000 x (111.3 / 113).
Which metro had stronger net migration, New York, NY or Washington, DC?: For 2021-2022, New York, NY had a net loss of 242,855 people, while Washington, DC had a net loss of 45,746 people. IRS small-flow suppression means these are lower-bound research signals, not complete population-change totals.

Related comparisons

New York, NY profile Washington, DC profile Compare other cities