California vs District of Columbia
Side-by-side cost of living comparison.
State Taxes
Sales Tax
7.25%
6%
+1.3 pp in California
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
10.75%
+2.6 pp in California
Housing (median across tracked cities)
Median 1BR Rent
$1,688
$1,885
+12% in District of Columbia
Median Home Value
$771,700
$724,600
+6% in California
Income (median across tracked cities)
Median Household Income
$83,969
$106,287
+27% in District of Columbia
Climate (median across tracked cities)
Avg Annual Temperature
64.4°F
58.2°F
+6.2°F in California
Housing, income, and climate are medians across the 9/1 cities we track in California/District of Columbia — not population-weighted statewide figures. Taxes are exact state-level rates. Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026.