Cost of living in Washington, DC Livability score 39 · cost-of-living index 109.5 (US = 100)
How Washington compares Where Washington falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 110 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 110 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $583k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $583k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $389 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $389 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 6.0% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 6.0% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.95% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.95% Violent crime (per 100k) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k): 1,000 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 1,000 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 25.4 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 25.4 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 88° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 88° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 29° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 29° Map of Washington Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 109.5 #185 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 106.4 #195 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $6.23 #185 of 200 Median household income $119,803 #3 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $60,914 #3 of 200
Economy Metric Value US rank Unemployment rate 4.87% #81 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +4.2% #93 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value US rank Median home price $583,013 #182 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.9× #111 of 200 1-yr home appreciation -0.5% #145 of 200 Price per square foot $389 #185 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,500 sqft Median rent (monthly) $2,416 #181 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 17,423 Median days on market 8 #29 of 200
Taxes Metric Value US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 12.0% #153 of 200 Combined sales tax 6.00% #16 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 10.75% Capital gains tax 10.75% #168 of 200 High earners No special surtax Effective property tax rate 0.95% #116 of 200 Median property tax paid $4,860 #174 of 200
Healthcare & childcare Metric Value US rank Healthcare (annual, single adult) $7,800 #182 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $26,000 #200 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value US rank Annual registration $155 #134 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) None #1 of 200 Emissions testing Required Emissions detail Required in major metro counties DMV & license offices 14 Avg commute to work 34 min #198 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value US rank Electricity 25.4¢/kWh #161 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $229 #161 of 200 Gasoline $3.40/gal #135 of 200
Insurance Metric Value US rank Home insurance (annual) $1,400 #47 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $2,000 #116 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: flooding — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $800 #120 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 49 #122 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 1,500 #110 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 4,000 #106 of 200 Avg summer high 88°F #98 of 200 Avg winter low 29°F #109 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 7b Frost window 04-01 → 11-10
Safety Metric Value US rank Violent crime (per 100k) 1,000 #200 of 200 Property crime (per 100k) 4,200 #200 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value US rank Grocery stores 39 #123 of 200 Parks 44 Hiking areas 17 Golf courses 17 Shooting ranges 5 Lakes 5
Permits Metric Value US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 4 #147 of 200 Permit detail Difficult; zoning + review
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Affiliate disclosure: some links on this site are affiliate links —
we may earn a commission when you use them, at no extra cost to you.
Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts (Google Maps listings) via our own scraper.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.