District of Columbia
High tax burden · COL index 152
Wins 5 categories
New Jersey
Very High tax burden · COL index 121
Wins 7 categories
Cost of living in District of Columbia (index 152) runs 26% higher than New Jersey (index 121). Property taxes are meaningfully different: New Jersey averages 2.13% annually vs District of Columbia's 0.56%. The median home in District of Columbia costs $640K vs $500K in New Jersey.
Taxes
Housing & Cost of Living
Crime & Safety
Healthcare
Education
Childcare
Utilities & Daily Costs
Social Policy
Category wins
5
District of Columbia
7
New Jersey
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Is DC cheaper than NJ?
Overall cost of living in Washington, DC is 21.0% higher than in Newark, NJ. The average listing price for a home in Washington, DC is $1,085,511, which is 63.1% higher than Newark, NJ. The average cost of groceries in Washington, DC is 1.1% higher than Newark, NJ.
Is $90,000 a good salary in DC?
The median wage is $80.6K / yr. $94K is the 75th percentile. Wages above this are outliers.
Why are people moving away from DC?
For instance, many young couples leave DC to buy homes in places like Raleigh or Pittsburgh, where housing is more budget-friendly. Retirement also plays a role. Some older adults move to Florida or the Carolinas to enjoy a lower cost of living and warmer weather. Others want to live closer to family.
Is the District of Columbia a good place to live?