CostIndexUSA

Gainesville, FL vs Washington, DC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableFL
Gainesville
96.7
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
DC
Washington
108.9
overall index
$2,325/mo rent

Gainesville is moderately cheaper than Washington — 12.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Gainesville, you would need $90,100 in Washington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+62.5%
Gainesville
93
Washington
151.1
🛒 Groceries+8.9%
Gainesville
96.2
Washington
104.8
🚗 Transportation+3.5%
Gainesville
103.8
Washington
107.4
🏥 Healthcare+3.5%
Gainesville
93.9
Washington
97.2
Utilities+21.0%
Gainesville
88.2
Washington
106.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Gainesville to see what you'd need to earn in Washington to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Washington, DC
$90,100
$10,100 more needed in Washington

Formula: salary × (108.9 ÷ 96.7) = salary × 1.1262. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Gainesville, FL

Median Home Price
$294,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
93
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Washington, DC

Median Home Price
$567,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,325
Housing Index
151.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.3×

Washington has 62.5% higher housing costs compared to Gainesville.

Income & Job Market

Gainesville, FL

Median Household Income
$59,300
Per Capita Income
$33,800
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
140,003
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyGovernmentResearch

Washington, DC

Median Household Income
$121,500
Per Capita Income
$69,300
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
689,545
Top Industries
GovernmentFinanceTechnologyHealthcareDefense

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Gainesville, FL
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Washington, DC
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.