Global CityIntelligence

Cost of living

Cost of Living in Washington DC, United States

This page summarises typical cost of living in Washington DC, United States, expressed in USD. A single person can expect to budget around 2,010 USD per month before rent-driven variation, with an affordability score of 60/100 (higher means more affordable). On that scale Washington DC is moderate relative to other cities in the dataset. These are deterministic planning estimates derived from a country cost baseline adjusted for the city's affordability and size — they are not live market prices, not a ranking, and should be verified against current local sources before relocation or travel decisions.

Single / month
2,010 USD
Affordability
60/100

Overview

This page summarises typical cost of living in Washington DC, United States, expressed in USD. A single person can expect to budget around 2,010 USD per month before rent-driven variation, with an affordability score of 60/100 (higher means more affordable). On that scale Washington DC is moderate relative to other cities in the dataset. These are deterministic planning estimates derived from a country cost baseline adjusted for the city's affordability and size — they are not live market prices, not a ranking, and should be verified against current local sources before relocation or travel decisions.

Currency: USD. Data year 2025; last updated 2026-05-16.

Monthly budget

Indicative total monthly spending by household type, before housing-market variation.

Monthly budget

  • Single person2,010 USD
  • Couple3,420 USD
  • Family5,130 USD

Housing costs

Typical monthly rent by dwelling size.

Housing costs

  • Studio791 USD
  • One-bedroom1,070 USD
  • Three-bedroom1,980 USD

Food costs

Everyday food and drink reference prices.

Food costs

  • Restaurant meal18 USD
  • Coffee4 USD

Transport costs

Public transport reference price.

Transport costs

  • Monthly transit pass69 USD

Affordability score

A 0–100 comparison score; higher means more affordable. Mirrors the affordability dimension used across the platform's rankings.

Affordability score

Washington DC has an affordability score of 60/100, which places it in the moderate range relative to other indexed cities. Because every city profile uses the same scale, this score is the most reliable cross-city comparison — local-currency totals above are not directly comparable between countries.

Cost comparison summary

Neutral, source-grounded comparison with related cities. Not a ranking and not a recommendation.

Cost comparison summary

In Washington DC a single-person monthly budget is around 2,010 USD and a one-bedroom rent around 1,070 USD. Use the affordability score (60/100) to compare across countries, since amounts are shown in each city's local currency.

Continue exploring

Continue researching this city across the platform's other planning surfaces.

Continue exploring

Related guides

Keep exploring Washington DC across the rest of the dataset — its full profile, travel guides and nearby nature.

Washington DC city profileFull intelligence profile with quick answers, FAQs and every indexed dimension.Weekend trips from Washington DCCurated nearby getaways and day trips within easy reach.Nature near Washington DCVerified parks, lakes, coasts and uplands within ~170 km.Washington DC visual guideA visual orientation to the city and its surroundings.