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

Washington ranks #11 out of 577 cities globally. It is 36.6% more expensive than the United States average, based on 82 cities. The rent index is 67.4 and local purchasing power is 148.9.

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

Lebenshaltungskosten in Washington

36.6% über dem United States-Durchschnitt

Platz #11 von 577 Städten · Teurer als 98.1% der Städte weltweit

+36.6%

Lebenshaltungskosten

+63.2%

Miete

+16.4%

Lebensmittel

+3.3%

Kaufkraft

Vergleich zum United States-Durchschnitt · United States-Ranking ansehen →

Mietpreise in Washington

Wohnung	Stadtzentrum	Außerhalb des Zentrums	Du sparst
1-Zimmer	USD 2,717/mo	USD 2,229/mo	18%
3-Zimmer	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 78.8 (New York = 100, rent included), the average of 3 of 3 data sources.

78.8

Index

Sources

4.7

Gap between sources

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Numbeo

80.7

Expatistan

76.0

LivingCost

79.7

ShouldIMove price index

No data

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

View all 577 cities | Data collected: Numbeo Oktober 2026 · Expatistan März 2026 · LivingCost Oktober 2026

Kostenindizes

Lebenshaltungskosten

+36.6% Very expensive

Miete

+63.2% Very expensive

Lebensmittel

+16.4% Expensive

Restaurants

+20.8% Very expensive

Kaufkraft

+3.3% Average

Leben in Washington: Was dich erwartet

Washington ist very expensive nach globalen Maßstäben (Platz #11 von 577 Städten). 36.6% teurer als der United States-Durchschnitt, basierend auf 82 Städten.

Lebensmittel sind expensive, während Essen gehen very expensive ist. Groceries bietet das beste Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis, während Rent am teuersten ist.

Die lokale Kaufkraft ist stark: Einwohner können sich mehr Waren und Dienstleistungen leisten als in den meisten Städten.

Lebenshaltungskosten in Washington

Mietpreise in Washington

Prices of Goods & Services in Washington

Groceries

Restaurants

Clothing & Shoes

Leisure

Transportation

Utilities

Multi-Source Comparison

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Kostenindizes

Leben in Washington: Was dich erwartet

Wie schneidet Washington ab?

Planst du einen Umzug nach Washington?