Cost of Living in Washington, DC
Updated November 2026 · District of Columbia · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area · population 681,294
Prices in Washington are 9.4% above the US average (local index 109.4; the BEA index for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is 108.9), with local housing the biggest cost driver at 135.9; a single adult's modelled budget is about $3,627 a month and the median rent is $1,954.
Prices by category
CostLiving local estimate. 100 = US average; 110 means prices are 10% higher. Housing reflects Washington's own median rent compared with the area's average rent; goods, utilities and other services are BEA's official price parities for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, unchanged.
Washington price index by category, US average = 100: All items 109.4, Housing (rents) 135.9, Goods 104.8, Utilities 106.7, Other services 102.3
More expensive than 74% of the cities we cover.
| BEA index | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 109.8 | 111.4 | 111.6 | 111.2 | 109.5 | 108.9 |
Monthly budget by household type
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Washington, DC
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,844 | $22,128 | 51% |
| Utilities | $276 | $3,312 | 8% |
| Food at home | $296 | $3,552 | 8% |
| Transportation | $677 | $8,124 | 19% |
| Health care | $360 | $4,320 | 10% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $174 | $2,088 | 5% |
| Total | $3,627 | $43,524 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Washington, DC
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,975 | $23,700 | 37% |
| Utilities | $439 | $5,268 | 8% |
| Food at home | $546 | $6,552 | 10% |
| Transportation | $1,341 | $16,092 | 25% |
| Health care | $667 | $8,004 | 13% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $343 | $4,116 | 6% |
| Total | $5,311 | $63,732 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Washington, DC
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $2,374 | $28,488 | 36% |
| Utilities | $534 | $6,408 | 8% |
| Food at home | $779 | $9,348 | 12% |
| Transportation | $1,781 | $21,372 | 27% |
| Health care | $621 | $7,452 | 10% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $443 | $5,316 | 7% |
| Total | $6,532 | $78,384 | 100% |
Modelled estimate of basic costs, excluding taxes, child care and savings. Housing is rent excluding tenant-paid utilities (counted under utilities). See how the budget is calculated.
Housing costs in Washington
Rent by number of bedrooms
| Size | Median rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,750 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,944 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,083 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,503 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,369 |
Median rent: Census ACS 2020-2024 median gross rent by bedrooms (rent plus tenant-paid utilities, all renters).
Rent, home values and affordability
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,954 |
| Median contract rent (excl. utilities) | $1,853 |
| Median home value | $737,100 |
| Owner costs with a mortgage | $3,128/mo |
| Median household income | $109,870 |
| Rent as % of renter income Moderate | 28.6% |
| Home value ÷ household income Very expensive | 6.7× |
Census ACS 5-year 2020-2024.
Electricity and gas prices
Residential electricity in District of Columbia
25.98¢ per kWh, August 2026
12-month change: +12.1% (from 23.18¢) · US 18.16¢
Average household uses 635 kWh a month in District of Columbia ≈ $155/month. Source: EIA-861M (statewide average).
Regular gasoline regional figure: Central Atlantic (PADD 1B)
$4.23 per gallon, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change: +38.3% (from $3.06) · US $4.15
EIA weekly retail price survey; District of Columbia is covered by the Central Atlantic (PADD 1B) average.
Inflation in the South
Consumer prices in the South Census region rose +3.4% in the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%). Nationally, food at home changed +1.8%, shelter +3.2% and energy +20.4%. Source: BLS CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted. CPI is published for regions and large metro areas, so the regional figure is shown.
Salary equivalent
Because prices in Washington are 9.4% above the US average, $60,000 here has the buying power of about $54,900 in an average-priced US area.
Formula: US-equivalent = salary × 100 ÷ 109.4. Based on the local cost index (CostLiving estimate from BEA RPP and Census rents); taxes not included.
Nearby cities
| City | Distance | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington, VA | 5 mi | 114.0 | $3,895 | $2,322 |
| Silver Spring, MD | 7 mi | 108.8 | $3,523 | $1,913 |
| Alexandria, VA | 7 mi | 111.1 | $3,555 | $2,089 |
| Bethesda, MD | 8 mi | 115.9 | $3,981 | $2,469 |
| McLean, VA | 10 mi | 128.0 | $4,764 | $3,422 |
| Wheaton, MD | 10 mi | 112.0 | $3,314 | $2,163 |
Cities with a similar cost of living
| City | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eden Prairie, MN | 109.4 | $3,217 | $1,833 |
| Ellicott City, MD | 109.3 | $3,352 | $2,061 |
| Elizabeth, NJ | 109.3 | $2,978 | $1,523 |
| Moreno Valley, CA | 109.4 | $3,406 | $2,135 |
| Hillsboro, OR | 109.5 | $3,340 | $1,978 |
| Boulder, CO | 109.5 | $3,277 | $2,018 |
Compare Washington with another city
- Washington vs Chicago, IL: full comparison
- Washington vs New York, NY: full comparison
- Washington vs Philadelphia, PA: full comparison
- Washington vs Atlanta, GA: full comparison
- Washington vs Boston, MA: full comparison
- Washington vs Detroit, MI: full comparison
- Washington vs Baltimore, MD: full comparison
- Washington vs Arlington, VA in the calculator
- Washington vs Silver Spring, MD in the calculator
- Washington vs Alexandria, VA in the calculator
- Washington vs Bethesda, MD in the calculator
- Washington vs the District of Columbia average (109.9)
Frequently asked questions
Is Washington, DC an expensive place to live?
Washington has a local cost of living index of 109.4, which is 9.4% above the US average. This CostLiving estimate starts from the BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area (108.9) and adjusts housing to Washington's own rents. It is 0.5 points below the District of Columbia average. More expensive than 74% of the cities we cover.
How much money do you need to live in Washington?
Our modelled estimate of basic monthly costs is $3,627 for a single adult, $5,311 for a couple and $6,532 for a family of four, before taxes, child care and savings. A $60,000 salary in an average-priced US area buys about the same as $65,600 in Washington.
What is the average rent in Washington?
The median gross rent (rent plus tenant-paid utilities) is $1,954 a month (Census ACS 2020-2024). By size: 1 bedroom $1,944, 2 bedrooms $2,083, 3 bedrooms $2,503. The typical renter spends 28.6% of household income on rent (moderate).
How much does a house cost in Washington?
The median owner-estimated home value is $737,100, 6.7 times the median household income of $109,870 (very expensive). Owners with a mortgage pay a median $3,128 a month in housing costs.
How much is electricity and gas in Washington?
District of Columbia residential electricity averaged 25.98¢ per kWh in August 2026 (US 18.16¢). Regular gasoline was $4.23 a gallon (Central Atlantic (PADD 1B) average, week of 2026-11-02).
Sources and notes
- Local cost index: CostLiving estimate from BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan statistical area (BEA index 108.9) with housing from Census ACS median rent (city figure); see the methodology.
- Rents, home values, income, population: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, Census place 1150000 (Washington city).
- Electricity: EIA-861M, District of Columbia residential average, August 2026.
- Gasoline: EIA weekly retail regular gasoline, Central Atlantic (PADD 1B), week of 2026-11-02.
- Inflation: BLS CPI-U South region, September 2026.
- Budget baselines: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2025; electricity use by household size: EIA RECS 2020.
- Gasoline price: regional figure (EIA publishes weekly prices for only 9 states).
Labels such as “county figure” or “state nonmetro figure” mark values that come from a larger area because the city-level figure is unavailable or unreliable. The monthly budget is a modelled estimate, not observed spending, and excludes taxes. This page is for general information and is not financial advice. Methodology · All sources