Cost of living index
Washington, DC
108.9 / 100
Living in Washington, DC is 8.9% more expensive than the US average.
Overall prices
108.9
Housing / rent
151.1
vs US average
+8.9%
What it costs to live in Washington, DC
Washington, DC has an overall price level of 108.9 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 8.9% higher than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 151.1 it is 51.1% above the national average. Because rent and mortgage payments are the biggest line in most household budgets, that housing figure is usually what you’ll feel most when you move here.
Compare Washington, DC with
New York, NYLos Angeles, CAChicago, ILDallas, TXHouston, TXPhiladelphia, PAAtlanta, GAMiami, FLPhoenix, AZBoston, MARiverside, CA
Common questions
Is Washington, DC an expensive place to live?
Washington, DC has an overall cost-of-living index of 108.9, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 8.9% more expensive than the country as a whole.
Is housing expensive in Washington, DC?
Housing in Washington, DC scores 151.1 against a US average of 100 — roughly 51.1% above average. Housing is usually the largest single cost, so it drives most of the overall difference.
How does Washington, DC compare to the US average cost of living?
Overall prices in Washington, DC sit at 108.9 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 151.1. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.