What is the average rent in Washington?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Washington city centre costs approximately USD 2,717 per month. Outside the centre, rent drops to USD 2,229 (saving 18%). A 3-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around USD 5,286.

Is Washington affordable to live in?

Washington is very expensive by global standards. Groceries are expensive, restaurants are very expensive, and local purchasing power is average.

🇺🇸 DC, United States · 2026

Cost of Living in Washington

Q: How expensive is Washington compared to the rest of United States?

Washington ranks #12 out of 577 cities globally. It is 36.2% more expensive than the United States average, based on 82 cities. The rent index is 67.4 and local purchasing power is 148.9.

36.2% above the United States average

Ranked #12 of 577 cities · More expensive than 97.9% of cities worldwide

+36.2%

Cost of Living

+63.2%

Rent

+16.4%

Groceries

+3.3%

Purchasing Power

Compared to United States average · See United States ranking →

Rent Prices in Washington

Apartment	City Centre	Outside Centre	You Save
1-Bedroom	USD 2,717/mo	USD 2,229/mo	18%
3-Bedroom	USD 5,286/mo	USD 4,446/mo	16%

Numbeo · 2026-10-02

Prices of Goods & Services in Washington

Groceries

Item	Price	Sources
Apples (1kg)	$6.65	1 source
Beer (0.5L, supermarket)	$3.28	1 source
Bread (500g)	$4.22	1 source
Local cheese (1kg)	$15.46	1 source
Chicken (1kg)	$17.63	1 source
Cigarettes (Marlboro)	$13.94	1 source
Eggs (12)	$4.77	1 source
Milk (1L)	$1.13	1 source
Potatoes (1kg)	$2.85	1 source
Tomatoes (1kg)	$5.63	1 source
Water (1.5L)	$2.43	1 source
Wine (mid-range)	$16.00	1 source

Apples (1kg)

$6.65

Beer (0.5L, supermarket)

$3.28

Bread (500g)

$4.22

Local cheese (1kg)

$15.46

Chicken (1kg)

$17.63

Cigarettes (Marlboro)

$13.94

Eggs (12)

$4.77

Milk (1L)

$1.13

Potatoes (1kg)

$2.85

Tomatoes (1kg)

$5.63

Water (1.5L)

$2.43

Wine (mid-range)

$16.00

Restaurants

Item	Price	Sources
Draft beer (0.5L)	$8.00	1 source
Cappuccino	$6.02	1 source
McMeal	$12.00	1 source
Cheap meal	$23.50	1 source
Mid-range dinner (2 people)	$115.00	1 source

Draft beer (0.5L)

$8.00

Cappuccino

$6.02

McMeal

$12.00

Cheap meal

$23.50

Mid-range dinner (2 people)

$115.00

Clothing & Shoes

Item	Price	Sources
Business shoes (leather)	$144.05	1 source
Jeans (Levi's 501)	$71.55	1 source
Sport shoes (Nike)	$101.85	1 source
Summer dress (Zara/H&M)	$44.78	1 source

Business shoes (leather)

$144.05

Jeans (Levi's 501)

$71.55

Sport shoes (Nike)

$101.85

Summer dress (Zara/H&M)

$44.78

Leisure

Item	Price	Sources
Cinema ticket	$17.00	1 source
Gym membership	$119.69	1 source

Cinema ticket

$17.00

Gym membership

$119.69

Transportation

Item	Price	Sources
Gasoline (1L)	$0.87	1 source
Taxi start	$4.00	1 source
Monthly pass	$117.50	1 source

Gasoline (1L)

$0.87

Taxi start

$4.00

Monthly pass

$117.50

Utilities

Item	Price	Sources
Basic utilities (85m²)	$203.35	1 source

Basic utilities (85m²)

$203.35

Prices in local currency, cross-referenced from multiple independent sources. October 2026.

Multi-Source Comparison

★★★ High Confidence

Washington has a cost of living index of 78.6 (New York = 100, rent included), the average of 3 of 3 data sources.

78.6

Index

Sources

4.7

Gap between sources

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Numbeo

80.7

Expatistan

76.0

LivingCost

79.2

ShouldIMove price index

No data

ShouldIMove price index: our own basket of real item prices plus rent.

View all 577 cities

Cost Indices

Cost of Living

+36.2% Very expensive

Rent

+63.2% Very expensive

Groceries

+16.4% Expensive

Restaurants

+20.8% Very expensive

Purchasing Power

+3.3% Average

Living in Washington: What to Expect

Washington is very expensive by global standards (ranked #12 of 577 cities). It is 36.2% more expensive than the United States average, based on 82 cities.

Groceries are expensive and dining out is very expensive. The best value is groceries and the priciest is rent.

Local purchasing power is strong: residents can afford more goods and services than in most cities.

Cost of Living in Washington

Rent Prices in Washington

Prices of Goods & Services in Washington

Groceries

Restaurants

Clothing & Shoes

Leisure

Transportation

Utilities

Multi-Source Comparison

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Cost Indices

Living in Washington: What to Expect

How Does Washington Compare?

Planning a Move to Washington?