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Washington, DC vs Erie, PA

Moving from Washington to Erie? Here's what changes — from your equivalent salary to housing ($583,013 → $224,109 median home) and taxes.

Washington vs Erie at a glance

Bars scaled to the range across all 200 metros; labels show actual values.

Washington, DC Erie, PA Cost-of-living index Washington, DC — Cost-of-living index: 110 110 Erie, PA — Cost-of-living index: 92 92 Median home price Washington, DC — Median home price: $583k $583k Erie, PA — Median home price: $224k $224k Price per sqft Washington, DC — Price per sqft: $389 $389 Erie, PA — Price per sqft: $128 $128 Median rent Washington, DC — Median rent: $2,416 $2,416 Erie, PA — Median rent: $1,138 $1,138 Combined sales tax Washington, DC — Combined sales tax: 6.0% 6.0% Erie, PA — Combined sales tax: 6.3% 6.3% Property tax rate Washington, DC — Property tax rate: 0.95% 0.95% Erie, PA — Property tax rate: 1.71% 1.71% Violent crime /100k Washington, DC — Violent crime /100k: 1,000 1,000 Erie, PA — Violent crime /100k: 390 390 Electricity ¢/kWh Washington, DC — Electricity ¢/kWh: 25.4 25.4 Erie, PA — Electricity ¢/kWh: 21.5 21.5 Avg commute (min) Washington, DC — Avg commute (min): 34 34 Erie, PA — Avg commute (min): 20 20 Avg summer high °F Washington, DC — Avg summer high °F: 88° 88° Erie, PA — Avg summer high °F: 85° 85° Avg winter low °F Washington, DC — Avg winter low °F: 29° 29° Erie, PA — Avg winter low °F: 22° 22°

To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in Washington, DC, you'd need about $83,931 in Erie, PA (−$16,069).

Livability — Washington, DC: 39 · Erie, PA: 71 (0–100).

What your home budget buys

A $500,000 home budget gets you about 1,286 sqft in Washington vs 3,903 sqft in Erie ($389 vs $128 per sqft).

Annual cost breakdown (at $100,000)

CategoryWashington, DCErie, PADifference
Housing $28,992 $13,656 −$15,336
Groceries $5,318 $4,915 −$403
Transportation $3,855 $3,440 −$415
Utilities $2,748 $2,316 −$432
Insurance $1,400 $1,200 −$200
Taxes $17,710 $8,027 −$9,683
Total $60,023 $33,554 −$26,469

Side by side

MetricWashington, DCErie, PA
Cost-of-living index109.591.9
Unemployment rate4.87%5.47%
Population growth (5-yr)4.2%-2.6%
Air quality (median AQI)4938
Big Mac price (est.)$6.23$5.23
Median home price$583,013$224,109
Home price ÷ income4.9×3.8×
1-yr home appreciation-0.5%5.9%
Price per square foot$389$128
Median rent$2,416$1,138
Total tax burden (% income)12.0%10.6%
Combined sales tax6.00%6.34%
Capital gains tax10.75%3.07%
Property tax rate0.95%1.71%
Healthcare (annual)$7,800$7,000
Childcare (annual, infant)$26,000$12,000
Vehicle property taxNoneNone
Avg commute (min)3420
Home insurance / yr$1,400$1,200
Auto insurance / yr$2,000$1,600
Flood insurance / yr$800$650
Earthquake insurance / yr$100$100
Electricity ¢/kWh25.421.5
Gas $/gal3.403.55
Violent crime /100k1,000390
Avg summer high °F8885
Avg winter low °F2922
Permit difficulty (1–5)43

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