Salary comparison
Managers, All Other: Washington vs Santa Cruz
Washington, DC pays about 0.2% more for managers, all other on paper — $170,980 vs $170,650. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Washington comes out ahead by $330 a year in real buying power.
Washington, DC
$170,980
$151,990
$195,190
$82.20
100
$170,980/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Santa Cruz, CA
$170,650
$123,550
$216,620
$82.04
100
$170,650/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $330 a year (0.2%) in favor of Washington. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Washington runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Santa Cruz sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Washington is the better deal by $330 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Santa Cruz to Washington for this role, the raise needs to beat 0.2% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do managers, all other earn more, Washington or Santa Cruz?
Washington pays $170,980 on median — about 0.2% more than Santa Cruz ($170,650). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Washington. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Washington gives you roughly$170,980 of real buying power versus $170,650 in the other city.