Cost of living in Washington, DC: rent, homes and salary
The BEA regional price parity (RPP) puts Washington, DC at 108.9 for the metro area in 2024, against a US average of 100. Living costs run 8.9% above average, and housing alone reaches 151.1.
- Level of prices
- 108.9US = 100, BEA 2024
- Price level for housing
- 151.1 for rents, US = 100.
Cost of living index for Washington, DC
Regional price parities compare the cost of an identical basket of goods and services in one place against the US average, which stands at 100. Washington, DC is part of the metro area that BEA prices as one: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV. Housing (rents) is the category that differs most from the US average, at 151.1, or 51.1% above the US.
| Price level, US = 100 | Washington, DC metro | Metro against the US |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 108.9 | +8.9% |
| Goods | 104.8 | +4.8% |
| Housing (rents) | 151.1 | +51.1% |
| Utilities | 106.7 | +6.7% |
| Other services | 102.3 | +2.3% |
The Bureau of Economic Analysis publishes regional price parities for metro areas, and these numbers are for 2024. BEA regional price parities
Washington, DC rents
Asking rent in Washington, DC typically runs $2,484 a month, based on Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). That measure covers homes listed now and is +1.0% on a year. The US number is $1,932. Census puts median gross rent at $1,931, a measure that counts every renting household, not only new leases. One year of the asking rent equals 27% of the median household income.
| Rent | Washington, DC | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical asking rent, Zillow ZORI | $2,484 | $1,932 |
| Asking rent, 12-month change | +1.0% | |
| Median gross rent, Census ACS 2024 | $1,931 | $1,487 |
| Asking rent for one year, as a share of the median income figure | 27% | 28% |
Zillow Observed Rent Index for rent; Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 for one-year estimates.
Washington, DC home prices
According to the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), a typical home in Washington, DC was valued at $566,961 in September 2026. The index tracks what homes in the middle range of the market are worth. Over a year the figure moved −0.7%, compared with $366,157 in the US. The price takes 5.2 years of median household income to cover, compared with 4.5 for the US.
| Home prices | Washington, DC | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $566,961 | $366,157 |
| 12-month change | −0.7% | +1.2% |
| 10-year change | +13.1% | +77.4% |
| Price to income (years of median income) | 5.2 | 4.5 |
| Price to rent (years of asking rent) | 19.0 | 15.8 |
Days on market, the forecast and a price chart going back to 2000: Washington, DC housing market.
What salary you need to live in Washington, DC
The salary in Washington, DC that matches what your pay buys now comes down to two questions: what you earn, and where you live.
- Moving away from
- Salary
Side by side comparisons for every city, and the method behind them: cost of living by city.
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Washington, DC cost of living, compared with other cities
| City | Level of prices | Housing | Usual rent | Value of a typical home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | 108.9 | 151.1 | $2,484 | $566,961 |
| New York City | 112.6 | 148.6 | $4,089 | $825,854 |
| Los Angeles | 113.6 | 170.4 | $2,772 | $927,891 |
| Chicago | 103.6 | 112.0 | $2,311 | $334,108 |
| Houston | 98.6 | 104.5 | $1,544 | $259,465 |
| Phoenix | 103.3 | 121.2 | $1,571 | $404,067 |
| Philadelphia | 102.6 | 113.1 | $1,757 | $231,584 |
| San Antonio | 94.7 | 94.6 | $1,381 | $244,623 |
| San Diego | 111.9 | 179.3 | $3,004 | $980,490 |
Price levels from BEA regional price parities, 2024, with US = 100. Rent figures: Zillow ZORI. Home values: Zillow ZHVI, September 2026.
All cities ranked: cost of living comparison. All states: cost of living by state.