Cost of living in Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV
6,465,724 people (Census 2025 estimate). Overall prices are 8.9% above the US average, with housing at 151.1 on BEA’s index (US = 100). A single renter on $60,000 keeps $81 a month after 2026 taxes and modeled costs.
Typical household budgets in Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV
Computed by MoveMath’s engine with 2026 tax law, HUD Fair Market Rent for the bedrooms each household needs, DOL 2022 childcare prices for District of Columbia, DC in current dollars, USDA Moderate-Cost food, one car per adult and $1,000 a month of other spending at US-average prices scaled by local price levels.
| Per month | Single, $60k | Couple + toddler, $110k | Family of four, $126,684 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross income | $5,000 | $9,167 | $10,557 |
| Taxes | $1,011 | $1,688 | $1,896 |
| Take-home pay | $3,989 | $7,479 | $8,661 |
| Housing | $2,204 | $2,438 | $2,438 |
| Childcare | $0 | $2,387 | $2,079 |
| Food | $462 | $1,036 | $1,345 |
| Transportation | $175 | $349 | $349 |
| Sales tax | $31 | $31 | $31 |
| Other goods & services | $1,036 | $1,036 | $1,036 |
| Left over | $81 | $201 | $1,383 |
Family of four = two adults, a preschooler and a school-age child at the metro’s median household income ($126,684). Click a column to open it in the budget planner and change any input.
Price levels: Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV vs District of Columbia and the US
BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. 100 = US average; bars compare the metro (dark) with District of Columbia statewide (light).
Within District of Columbia, Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV ranks 1st of 1 metros on overall prices; the state as a whole is at 109.9. The dashed line marks the US average.
Rent and homeownership
| Unit | HUD Fair Market Rent | Income needed at 30% | Share of median income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,111 | $84,440 | 20.0% |
| 1-bedroom | $2,204 | $88,160 | 20.9% |
| 2-bedroom | $2,438 | $97,520 | 23.1% |
| 3-bedroom | $3,107 | $124,280 | 29.4% |
| 4-bedroom | $3,658 | $146,320 | 34.6% |
FY2027 FMRs for Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area: 40th-percentile gross rent (rent + tenant-paid utilities) for standard-quality units. Census median gross rent, all unit sizes: $2,027 (ACS 2020-2024).
Childcare prices in District of Columbia, DC
| Age band | Center, weekly (2022) | Center, yearly today* | Home-based, weekly (2022) | Home-based, yearly today* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $490 | $31,147 | $400 | $25,426 |
| Toddler (2) | $451 | $28,642 | $393 | $24,997 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $393 | $24,949 | $368 | $23,408 |
| School-age (5–12) | — | — | — | — |
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022 county medians for full-time care in District of Columbia, DC (the metro’s principal county). *52 weeks × 1.2224, the BLS CPI change for day care and preschool from the 2022 average to 2026-08.
Taxes: what you keep in Washington
| Single filer, 2026 | $50,000 | $75,000 | $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 |
| District of Columbia income tax | $1,900 | $3,500 | $7,325 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,371 | $4,841 | $7,160 |
| Share of pay to taxes | 19.1% | 22.5% | 28.4% |
The District of Columbia levies its own income tax, shown here as the state-level tax; there is no separate local income tax. State sales tax: 6% (state rate only; local rates add on), groceries exempt. Scheduled: the state rate becomes 7% on 2027-10-01 (not applied in our budgets).
Calculate take-home pay for your household in Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05. Renters’ utilities are already inside gross rent.
Nearby metros
| Metro | Distance | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Single $60k left over |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | — | 108.9 | $2,438 | $81 |
| Baltimore, MD · compare | 35 mi | 104.5 | $2,006 | $549 (+$468) |
| Lexington Park, MD · compare | 55 mi | 100.8 | $1,787 | $564 (+$483) |
| Hagerstown, MD-WV · compare | 63 mi | 94.2 | $1,284 | $1,271 (+$1,190) |
| Winchester, VA-WV · compare | 65 mi | 96.5 | $1,505 | $1,208 (+$1,127) |
| Gettysburg, PA · compare | 65 mi | 95.4 | $1,354 | $1,339 (+$1,258) |
| York, PA · compare | 75 mi | 96.0 | $1,327 | $1,360 (+$1,279) |
Common moves to and from Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV
Census ACS metro-to-metro migration flows (ACS 5-year 2016-2020), people who moved in a year.
- Baltimore, MD32,189
- New York, NY-NJ11,162
- Richmond, VA10,158
- Virginia Beach, VA-NC10,142
- Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD6,490
- Los Angeles, CA5,492
- Hagerstown, MD-WV5,347
- San Diego, CA4,354
- Baltimore, MD28,038
- New York, NY-NJ17,558
- Virginia Beach, VA-NC8,743
- Richmond, VA7,459
- Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD6,406
- Boston, MA-NH5,331
- Miami, FL4,773
- Chicago, IL-IN4,244
Frequently asked questions
Is Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put overall prices in the Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV metro at 108.9 (US = 100) in 2024 — 8.9% above the national average and the 15th highest of 387 metros. Housing is 151.1, goods 104.8.
What salary do you need to live in Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV?+
A single renter earning $60,000 keeps $3,989 a month after 2026 taxes and has $81 left after rent at HUD Fair Market Rent, food, fuel, sales tax and other modeled costs. Use the cost of living calculator to find the salary that matches your current budget.
How much is rent in Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV?+
HUD’s FY2027 Fair Market Rent — the 40th-percentile gross rent including utilities — is $2,204 for a 1-bedroom and $2,438 for a 2-bedroom. The Census median gross rent for all units is $2,027.
Does Washington have a local income tax?+
The District of Columbia levies its own income tax, shown here as the state-level tax; there is no separate local income tax.