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Washington, DC
#47 of 124
North America

Washington, DC

DC, United States

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Washington, DC compare to Porto?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Washington, DC is 82% better off vs in Porto

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Washington, DC compared to Porto, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$151,000
+$105K (+229%) vs Porto
Based on 1670 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$96,187
+$69K (+255%) vs Porto
Tax Rate: 36%

Community Insights

New

Washington, DC offers a unique value proposition for software engineers: high stability and high pay in exchange for working on less "flashy" technology. While the median salary is impressive ($152k), the city's tech culture is dominated by government contracting (GovTech) and defense, which insulates workers from layoffs but often requires security clearances.

The lifestyle is a major draw for those who prefer urban walkability and public transit over the car-centric sprawl of Silicon Valley. However, prospective movers must weigh the benefits of a vibrant cultural scene (museums, history) against a high cost of living, relatively high crime rates, and a tech sector that lacks the startup energy of the West Coast.

Resident Sentiment

Residents generally appreciate the high quality of life afforded by the city's amenities, parks, and walkability. There is a sense of pride in the city's intellectual atmosphere, where conversations often revolve around policy and global impact.

However, a common frustration among transplants is the insularity of the job market (clearance vs. non-clearance) and the rising cost of living outpacing the "fun" aspects of the city. Many tech workers eventually move to the Northern Virginia suburbs (NoVA) to trade urban grit for better schools, lower crime, and proximity to tech hubs like Tysons Corner and Arlington.

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to Porto.

Rankings

Net Income

Top 15%

#19

of 124 cities

$96,187/yr

Current value

Community Events

Top 22%

#27

of 124 cities

8 events on luma

Current value

Home Affordability

Top 27%

#34

of 124 cities

≈5.2 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Washington, DC compared to Porto?

Avg. Property Price
$6,269 / m²
46% more expensive than Porto
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Washington, DC to maintain the same standard of living.

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Cost of Living
95% more expensive than Porto
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Washington, DC

Facebook logo
Facebook
Google logo
Google
Anduril Industries logo
Anduril Industries

The Good

  • High Salaries with a median around $152k, which remains competitive even against other major tech hubs.
  • Job Stability is exceptional due to the massive presence of government contracting and defense sectors that are insulated from commercial market volatility.
  • Excellent walkability and public transit (Metro), making it possible to live comfortably without a car, unlike most US tech cities.
  • World-class cultural amenities, including free access to Smithsonian museums, a diverse food scene, and historical landmarks.
  • Access to Amazon HQ2 and a growing presence of other commercial tech giants in Northern Virginia (Arlington/Alexandria).
  • Housing affordability relative to salary is surprisingly better (ranked #30) than comparable hubs like NYC or SF.

The Bad

  • Security Clearance requirements create a significant barrier to entry, locking many jobs behind citizenship and background check walls.
  • The tech scene can feel "boring" or bureaucratic, focusing on government consulting and legacy systems rather than cutting-edge consumer product innovation.
  • Safety concerns are significant (safety index ~40/100), with residents frequently discussing rising crime rates, including carjackings and theft.
  • High taxes (ranked #94) and a generally high cost of living reduce the effective purchasing power of the high salaries.
  • Summer weather is notoriously hot and humid ("swamp-like"), which can be oppressive for several months.
  • A transient social atmosphere where people frequently move in and out for political cycles or contract work.

The Verdict

You'll love it if...

Software engineers who already possess or can easily obtain a Security Clearance (US Citizens with clean records) will find endless opportunity here. It is ideal for those prioritizing job security and work-life balance over chasing the newest tech trends.

Professionals who want the East Coast city vibe—walkable neighborhoods, distinct seasons, and historical significance—without the chaos of NYC will thrive here. It is also a strong choice for those working in cybersecurity or data privacy, as DC is a global hub for these fields.

Skip it if...

Non-US citizens or those ineligible for security clearances will find more than half the job market closed to them.

Software engineers driven by high-growth startups, equity lottery tickets, or bleeding-edge consumer tech innovation may find the local industry stagnant or bureaucratic. Additionally, individuals highly sensitive to urban crime or humid weather should carefully consider the safety data and climate before committing.

Updated 11/29/2025

Weather6.3/10-26% vs Porto
Safety40-40%
Pollution42+72%
Events8+8
6.3/10TechCities weather score vs 8.5/10 in Porto

0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

Weather snapshot

Average High
19°C(same as Porto)
Average Low
10°C(same as Porto)
Sunshine Hours
2,528h/yr+60h/yr
Hottest Month High
31°C(vs 24°C in Porto)
Coldest Month Low
-1°C(vs 6°C in Porto)
Rainy Days
97/yr+7/yr(+8%)

Community & Quality

Washington, DC community pulse

Washington, DC has 8 Luma events listed.

Porto has no listed Luma events for comparison.

Comfortable Weather

Top 28%

#35

of 124 cities

63/100 weather score

Current value

Purchasing Power

Middle of the pack

#47

of 124 cities

Pollution Score

Middle of the pack

#52

of 124 cities

42.1/100

Current value (lower is better)

Tax Rate

Bottom 24%

#95

of 124 cities

36%

Current value (lower is better)

Safety Index

Bottom 16%

#106

of 124 cities

40.2/100

Current value

Cost of Living

Bottom 7%

#116

of 124 cities

80/100

Current value (lower is better)

SWE Affordability
5.2 years
7.5 years quicker than Porto
Muggy Days
66/yr+60/yr(+979%)
Cloud Cover
45%(vs 42% in Porto)