Washington DC to Denver salary comparison
How much salary do I need when moving from Washington, DC to Denver, CO? Compare cost of living and after-tax take-home between both cities. Equivalent salary needed, rent & mortgage by city, and % of income on housing—use the calculator for a personalized comparison.
Disclaimer
All results are estimates only and not legal, tax, or financial advice. Cost of living, rent, and tax figures vary by neighborhood and over time. Use this tool for planning only; verify with official sources or a professional before making relocation decisions.
This cost of living calculator uses cost-of-living indices (100 = national average) for Washington, DC and Denver, CO. It finds the equivalent gross salary you’d need in Denver, CO to keep the same standard of living as in Washington, DC, then runs full federal and state tax calculations for both locations so you see after-tax take-home in each city.
- Equivalent salary needed — Gross pay in Denver, CO that matches your current lifestyle.
- % increase or decrease — How much more or less gross you’d need when relocating.
- After-tax comparison — Take-home in Washington, DC vs. take-home in Denver, CO at your current or equivalent salary.
Use the calculator with Washington, DC and Denver, CO pre-selected to enter your salary and get your personalized comparison.
Washington, DC has a cost-of-living index of 132 (100 = national average); Denver, CO has 108. Moving to Denver, CO typically requires a lower gross salary to maintain the same lifestyle, before accounting for state tax differences.
Our tool includes federal and state income tax, Social Security, and Medicare for both cities, plus optional estimates for housing, commute, and one-time moving costs. Use the calculator above for your exact numbers.
The calculator’s optional Housing Cost section shows average rent by city for studio, 1–3 BR apartments and 2–4 BR houses (or a mortgage estimate if you plan to buy), plus the percentage of income on housing in Washington, DC and Denver, CO. Use the calculator above to see numbers for your salary and household size.
Our estimates use the same data sources as the main relocation calculator. We are not affiliated with these organizations.
- Cost of living indicesUS: C2ER-style indices. Canada: Statistics Canada and Numbeo-style benchmarks. 100 = national average.
- HousingApproximate median rent and price-to-rent by city (Zillow, Statista, CMHC for Canada). Values vary by neighborhood.
- TaxesFederal plus state income tax, Social Security, Medicare. Local/city taxes (e.g. NYC, Philadelphia) where applicable. For official tax rates and forms, see our Sources page.