on $100k a year, leaving Roanoke
changea dispatch from
washington
DC
38.91°N
77.04°W
Washington DC is power dressed in seersucker. The monuments glow at night, the Smithsonian museums are all free (yes, all of them), and the cherry blossoms in April make even cynical lobbyists pause for a selfie. It's one of the most international cities in America (embassies from everywhere), with food scenes to match. The vibe shifts every four years and the architecture stays magnificent through all of it.
in our guides
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read the guidethe verdict
more each month than Roanoke ran you
Washington doesn't pretend to be affordable. Move here for what Washington is, not for what it leaves on your monthly ledger.
a quick ledger.
$2,352/mo
70% more expensive than Roanoke(vs $1,382/mo)
8.5%
$229/mo more in state tax than Roanoke
vs 5.75% in Roanoke
$5,273/mo
$1,199 less than Roanoke
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$626k
111% more expensive than Roanoke
vs $296k in Roanoke
6.3M
vs 314k in Roanoke
field notes, weather & such.
177
pleasant days a year, in washington.
Roanoke edges ahead with 179 pleasant days.
Nights and weekends fill up faster. 13.4× more on the calendar than Roanoke.
87/100
26% higher than Roanoke
vs 69/100 in Roanoke
Closest outdoor draw: George Washington Memorial Parkway, 6.2 mi.
98/100
4% higher than Roanoke
vs 94/100 in Roanoke
160
1678% more than Roanoke
vs 9 nonstops in Roanoke
cities that play in washington's register:
