Side-by-side · Software Engineer
Washington vs Richmond
Move Value
+$15k
real, after tax + COL · per year
Career Velocity
6/10
DC: 7/10 → lateral
10-Year Outlook
+$154k
± $118k confidence band
| Washington | Richmond | |
|---|---|---|
| P50 salary, role | $152k | $112k |
| State + local income tax | None | None |
| After-tax income | $114k | $87k |
| Cost of living (US = 100) | 152 | 96 |
| Median 1BR rent | $2375/mo | $1736/mo |
| Real purchasing power | $75k | $91k |
| Career Velocity (this role) | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Career Velocity v1 (0–100) | 18 · Thin | 18 · Thin |
| Walkability (0–10) | 8 | 6 |
| Outdoors (0–10) | 7 | 8 |
Who should make this move
Choose Richmond if…
- ·You want $15k more real income per year on day one.
- ·Your 10-year picture lands $154k ahead.
- ·Small-city cost basis with a real food, art, and outdoors scene.
Stay in Washington if…
- ·Career Velocity is higher in DC (7/10 vs 6/10) for your field.
- ·You're optimizing for what DC uniquely offers: government, consulting, and biz-dev — recession-resistant by design.
A note on the numbers: Salaries are role-P50 from BLS-style bands. Tax is statutory state + local at ~$110k single. The 10-year outlook uses a 3-year promotion cadence with a small velocity adjustment, 2.5% COL inflation, and discounts to today's dollars. Full assumptions on the methodology page.