🇺🇸Cost of Living in Washington D.C.

United States · Population: 700,000 · Cost Index: 85/100

Cost of Living in Washington D.C.

United States · North America

Washington D.C. is the capital of the United States and home to the federal government, iconic monuments, and world-renowned museums. The city offers a vibrant cultural scene and diverse dining, though its cost of living is significantly above the national average.

700,000

Population

Cost Index

Safety Index

Quality of Life

Average Monthly Cost: $3,500 (single person, excluding rent)

Estimated monthly budget in Washington D.C.

Typical total monthly cost by household type.

Single person

$3,500

per month

Couple

$5,250

per month

Family of 4

$7,350

per month

Student

$2,630

per month

Estimates based on the average cost of living in Washington D.C., scaled by household size. Actual costs vary with lifestyle, neighbourhood and housing.

Cost Breakdown

Housing

Avg: $2,875.00

1-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)

$2,400.00

1-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)

$1,700.00

3-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)

$4,500.00

3-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)

$2,900.00

Food & Groceries

Avg: $15.60

Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant(per meal)

$20.00

Meal for 2 at Mid-Range Restaurant(per meal)

$90.00

McMeal at McDonald's(per meal)

$11.00

Milk (1 liter)(per liter)

$1.35

Bread (500g loaf)(per loaf)

$3.80

Rice (1 kg)(per kg)

$5.00

Eggs (12)(per dozen)

$4.50

Chicken Breast (1 kg)(per kg)

$13.00

Apples (1 kg)(per kg)

$5.50

Banana (1 kg)(per kg)

$1.90

Transportation

Avg: $21.75

Monthly Public Transit Pass(per month)

$100.00

One-Way Ticket (Local Transport)(per trip)

$2.25

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)(base fare)

$3.50

Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)(per km)

$2.00

Gasoline (1 liter)(per liter)

$1.00

Utilities

Avg: $96.67

Basic Utilities (85m² Apt)(per month)

$175.00

Mobile Phone Plan(per month)

$50.00

Internet (60 Mbps+)(per month)

$65.00

Healthcare

Avg: $156.67

Doctor Visit(per visit)

$230.00

Dentist Visit(per visit)

$190.00

Prescription Medicine (avg)(per prescription)

$50.00

Entertainment

Avg: $27.31

Fitness Club Monthly(per month)

$80.00

Cinema Ticket(per ticket)

$16.00

Cappuccino(per cup)

$5.25

Beer (0.5l) at Restaurant(per glass)

$8.00

Clothing

Avg: $60.67

Pair of Jeans (Levi's)(per pair)

$52.00

Summer Dress (Chain Store)(per item)

$40.00

Running Shoes (Nike, Adidas)(per pair)

$90.00

Popular Washington D.C. comparisons

Washington D.C. vs New York Washington D.C. vs Los Angeles Washington D.C. vs Chicago Washington D.C. vs Houston Washington D.C. vs London Washington D.C. vs Tokyo Washington D.C. vs Singapore Washington D.C. vs Dubai

Frequently asked questions about Washington D.C.

Is Washington D.C. expensive to live in?

Washington D.C. has a cost of living index of 85 out of 100, where New York City scores 100. This makes it relatively expensive compared with most cities we track.

How much money do you need to live in Washington D.C.?

A single person needs an estimated $3,500 per month to live in Washington D.C., covering rent, food, transport and other essentials. A family or a more comfortable lifestyle will cost more.

What is the cost of living index in Washington D.C.?

Washington D.C.'s cost of living index is 85 out of 100. The index is relative to New York City (100), so a score of 50 means overall costs are roughly half those of New York.

What is quality of life like in Washington D.C.?

Washington D.C. scores 65 out of 100 for quality of life and 50 out of 100 for safety in our index.

Data & sources

As an independent cross-check, the World Bank puts the overall price level in United States at 100 relative to the United States (=100) in 2024. View source

Cost figures on this site are independent estimates, cross-referenced with public data sources including World Bank, Numbeo, Eurostat, OECD.