Cost of Living in Washington, DC
| Cost of Living in Washington, DC | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | - | 150% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | - | 13% higher |
| Food | - | 8% higher |
| Healthcare | - | 0% |
| Transportation | - | 8% higher |
| Goods & Services | - | 18% higher |
The cost of living in Washington, DC is 2% lower than the state average and 52% higher than the national average. Washington, DC housing is 150% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 13% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 18% more in Washington, DC than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 18% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 0% here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 18% pricier in Washington, DC.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Washington is $2,233, while home prices circle around $1,160,186.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Washington, energy bills cost around $220.29 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $3.39 in Washington, a dozen eggs go for around $3.01 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.47.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Washington, an optometry check-up costs around $82.88, while a dentist appointment is priced $110.61 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.82 in Washington, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $69.33.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $38.11 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $33.43.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Washington, you should budget around $15.00 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $41.13, while dry cleaning costs about $13.80.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Washington, the median household income is $101,722.