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).

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	Scope	US rank
Cost-of-living index (US=100)	109.5	metro-area	#185 of 200
Grocery index (US=100)	106.4	metro-area	#195 of 200
Big Mac price (est.)	$6.23	metro-area	#185 of 200
Median household income	$119,803	metro-area	#3 of 200
Median wage (all occupations)	$60,914	metro-area	#3 of 200

Who lives here

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Median age	37.9 years	metro-area	#82 of 200
Bachelor's degree or higher (25+)	53.8%	metro-area	#4 of 200
Foreign-born residents	24.0%	metro-area	#13 of 200
Homes that are owner-occupied	63.5%	metro-area	#136 of 200

Economy

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Unemployment rate	4.87%	metro-area	#81 of 200
Population growth (5-yr)	+4.2%	metro-area	#93 of 200

Housing — what your money buys

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Median home price	$583,013	metro-area	#182 of 200
Home price ÷ income (affordability)	4.9×	metro-area	#111 of 200
1-yr home appreciation	-0.5%	metro-area	#145 of 200
Price per square foot	$389	metro-area	#185 of 200
Typical home size (implied)	1,500 sqft
Median rent (monthly)	$2,416	metro-area	#181 of 200
Homes for sale (inventory)	17,423
Median days on market	8	metro-area	#29 of 200

Taxes

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Total tax burden (est. % of income)	12.0%	state	#153 of 200
Combined sales tax	6.00%	state	#16 of 200
State income tax (top rate)	10.75%
Capital gains tax	10.75%	state	#168 of 200
High earners	No special surtax
Social Security in retirement	Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits
Effective property tax rate	0.95%	metro-area	#116 of 200
Median property tax paid	$4,860	metro-area	#174 of 200

Health & childcare

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Life expectancy at birth	80.8 years	metro-area	#8 of 200
Healthcare (annual, single adult)	$7,800	state	#182 of 200
Uninsured (share of residents)	7.4%	metro-area	#81 of 200
Primary care providers per 100k	87	metro-area	#44 of 200
Childcare (annual, infant, center)	$26,000	state	#200 of 200

Vehicles & commute

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Annual registration	$155	state	#134 of 200
Vehicle property tax (annual)	None	state	#1 of 200
Emissions testing	Required
Emissions detail	Required in major metro counties
DMV & license offices	14
Avg commute to work	34 min	metro-area	#198 of 200
Commute by driving alone	56.8%	metro-area	#4 of 200
Solo drivers commuting 30+ min	52.3%	metro-area	#198 of 200

Utilities & fuel

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Electricity	25.4¢/kWh	state	#161 of 200
Avg monthly electric bill	$229	state	#161 of 200
Gasoline	$3.40/gal	state	#135 of 200
Natural gas (avg monthly bill)	$80	state	#166 of 200
Water & sewer (avg monthly bill)	$271	state	#200 of 200
Home internet (avg monthly bill)	$81	state	#121 of 200

Insurance

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Home insurance (annual)	$1,400	state	#47 of 200
Auto insurance (annual)	$2,000	state	#116 of 200

Disaster risk & supplemental insurance

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Main natural hazards	Notable hazards: flooding — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed.
FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk)	82.9 — Relatively Moderate	metro-area	#46 of 200
Flood insurance (annual, NFIP)	$800	state	#120 of 200
Earthquake insurance (annual)	$100	state	#1 of 200

Climate & air quality

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner)	49	metro-area	#122 of 200
Cooling degree-days (AC load)	1,500	metro-area	#110 of 200
Homes with air conditioning (state)	93%	state	#87 of 200
Heating degree-days (heat load)	4,000	metro-area	#106 of 200
Days per year ≥ 90°F	31	metro-area	#101 of 200
Days per year ≥ 100°F	1	metro-area	#105 of 200
Avg summer high (state)	88°F	metro-area	#98 of 200
Avg winter low	29°F	metro-area	#109 of 200
Annual precipitation	41.8"	metro-area	#99 of 200
Annual snowfall	13.7"	metro-area	#117 of 200
Sunshine (% of possible)	56%	metro-area	#132 of 200
Plant hardiness zone	7b
Frost window	04-01 → 11-10

Safety

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Violent crime (per 100k, state avg)	1,000	state	#200 of 200
Property crime (per 100k, state avg)	4,200	state	#200 of 200

Local amenities & recreation

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Grocery stores	39	metro-area	#123 of 200
Parks	44
Hiking areas	17
Golf courses	17
Shooting ranges	5
Lakes	5

Permits

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Building permit difficulty (1–5)	4	state	#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.

Top employers in Washington

Major public and private employers in the Washington, DC area.

Employer	Sector	Jobs
U.S. Department of Defense	Government	Careers →
Georgetown University	Education	Search →
Capital One	Finance	Careers →
Marriott International	hospitality	Careers →
Northrop Grumman	Aerospace/Defense	Careers →
Booz Allen Hamilton	consulting	Careers →

Salaries by occupation in Washington

Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →

Occupation	Median pay
Lawyers	$183,500
Dentists	$182,000
Financial Managers	$172,060
Marketing Managers	$169,570
Human Resources Managers	$168,770
Pharmacists	$144,680
General & Operations Managers	$142,730
Software Developers	$141,510
Data Scientists	$135,080
Physician Assistants	$125,620
Construction Managers	$121,390
Mechanical Engineers	$116,470
Web Developers	$108,070
Dental Hygienists	$106,350
Physical Therapists	$103,070
Registered Nurses	$98,000
Accountants & Auditors	$97,320
Civil Engineers	$96,200
Graphic Designers	$80,100
Elementary School Teachers	$79,860
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers	$77,160
Electricians	$72,600
Real Estate Sales Agents	$66,560
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters	$65,360
Welders, Cutters & Solderers	$59,490
Carpenters	$58,580
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	$57,990
Medical Assistants	$46,570