Capital city in District of Columbia, United States

Cost of living in Washington, D.C.

Updated October 2026Sources

How much a month costs in Washington, D.C.

For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $4,400–6,200 ($4,400–6,200).

Lean$2,500–3,300$2,500–3,300 · Room or studio, local food

Comfortable$4,400–6,200$4,400–6,200 · 1-bed apartment, eating out daily

Luxury$8,500–14,000$8,500–14,000 · Upscale apartment, restaurants, taxis

Prices in Washington, D.C.

Typical 2026 ranges in USD, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.

Item	USD	US$
Housing
1-bedroom apartment, center (month)	$2,200–3,400	$2,200–3,400
1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month)	$1,700–2,600	$1,700–2,600
Hostel dorm bed (night)	$35–75	$35–75
Mid-range hotel room (night)	$180–340	$180–340
Food and drink
Local meal or street food	$12–18	$12–18
Mid-range restaurant, per person	$28–50	$28–50
Cappuccino	$4–6	$4–6
Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar	$7–11	$7–11
Getting around
Public transport, one ride	$2–6	$2–6
Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km	$14–25	$14–25
Work and life
Coworking day pass	$30–55	$30–55
Gym membership (month)	$50–120	$50–120
Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month)	$25–50	$25–50

Value for money: 3/100

A value score of 3/100 means Washington, D.C. gives more quality of life per dollar than 2% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 75/100. It's the 37th most affordable of 57 places we cover in United States.

Quality factor	Score
Safety	50
Air quality	97
Internet	88
Healthcare	100
Weather	58
Friendly locals	50
English	100

Cost of living across United States

One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.

Place	Comfortable month	Value
San Antonio	$2,600–3,800	27/100
Savannah	$3,000–4,400	19/100
Portland	$3,000–4,500	16/100
Orlando	$3,200–4,600	15/100
Atlanta	$3,200–4,800	10/100
Philadelphia	$3,300–4,800	8/100
New Orleans	$3,400–4,800	9/100
Las Vegas	$3,500–5,000	8/100
Denver	$3,500–5,000	11/100
Scottsdale	$3,600–5,200	13/100
Nashville	$3,700–5,200	10/100
Austin	$3,800–5,400	8/100
Charleston	$3,800–5,500	8/100
Fort Lauderdale	$3,800–5,500	8/100
Chicago	$4,000–5,800	4/100
Sedona	$4,000–5,800	8/100
Big Island	$4,200–6,200	5/100
Honolulu	$4,400–6,200	6/100
Washington, D.C.	$4,400–6,200	3/100
Los Angeles	$4,500–6,500	3/100
San Diego	$4,600–6,500	4/100
Seattle	$4,600–6,600	2/100
Maui	$4,600–6,600	5/100
Miami	$4,800–6,800	2/100
Boston	$4,800–6,800	3/100
Key West	$5,000–7,000	4/100
Kauai	$5,000–7,500	3/100
Miami Beach	$5,200–7,400	2/100
San Francisco	$5,600–7,800	1/100
New York City	$5,800–8,000	1/100

Cheaper alternatives to Washington, D.C.

Similar safety, lower cost, in North America.

Place	Country	Comfortable month
Quebec City	Canada	$2,110–2,950
Ottawa	Canada	$2,460–3,370
Niagara Falls	Canada	$2,250–3,090
Victoria	Canada	$2,530–3,440
Calgary	Canada	$2,460–3,370

Quick answers

How much money do you need per month in Washington, D.C.?

About $2,500–3,300 on a lean budget, $4,400–6,200 for a comfortable month and $8,500–14,000 for a luxury one, rent included.

How much is rent in Washington, D.C.?

A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs $2,200–3,400 ($2,200–3,400) a month in the center and $1,700–2,600 ($1,700–2,600) outside it.

How much does food cost in Washington, D.C.?

A local meal is $12–18 ($12–18); a mid-range restaurant is $28–50 ($28–50) per person.

Is United States expensive?

Prices in United States are about 100% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).

More about Washington, D.C.

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Sources

Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.