What is the cost of living in Washington?

The cost of living in Washington is 21.4% cheaper than New York City (index: 78.6). Groceries are 6.9% cheaper than NYC. Restaurants are 1.2% cheaper than NYC. A 1-bedroom apartment in the city centre costs approximately USD 2,717 per month. Local purchasing power index is 148.9 (NYC = 100).

🇺🇸 DC, United States · #12 of 577 cities · 2026

Should I Move to Washington?

Q: Should I move to Washington?

Washington, DC, United States has a cost of living 21.4% cheaper than New York City (index: 78.6). It is ranked #12 out of 577 cities globally. Local purchasing power is very strong (index: 148.9 vs NYC = 100). Use our salary comparison calculator to see exactly how your take-home pay would change.

21.4% cheaper than NYC, and purchasing power is very strong.

Run the calculator below with your actual salary to get a personalised answer.

-21.4%

vs NYC

USD 2,717

1-BR, city centre

148.9

Purchasing Power

Very strong

Purchasing Power

Cost index: Numbeo, blended with Expatistan and LivingCost where available (NYC = 100) · Data from October 2026

Personalised Answer

Compare your salary: move to Washington?

Cost breakdown: Washington

Cost indices vs NYC = 100

Cost of Living

78.6 Very expensive

Rent

67.4 Moderate

Groceries

93.1 Above average

Restaurants

98.8 Expensive

Purchasing Power

148.9 Very strong

Rent in Washington

1-BR, city centre USD 2,717/mo

1-BR, outside centre USD 2,229/mo

3-BR, city centre USD 5,286/mo

3-BR, outside centre USD 4,446/mo

Save by going outside centre 18% cheaper

Numbeo · 2026-10-02

Ready to run the numbers?

Enter your salary and current city. Get exact take-home pay in Washington after tax, in seconds.

Compare salaries → Full cost of living data

Relocation Toolkit

Trusted services for your move

Health insurance for living abroad

Nomad Insurance by SafetyWing: medical cover designed for people working and living outside their home country. Flexible monthly subscription, cancel any time.

Get covered with SafetyWing

Secure your connection in your new city

NordVPN keeps your data safe on public Wi-Fi, lets you access content from home, and is a must-have for remote workers abroad.

Get NordVPN

We may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.