Cost of living in District of Columbia
Prices in District of Columbia are 9.9% above the US average (3rd highest of 51). A single filer on $75,000 pays $3,500 in state income tax. State sales tax: 6%.
Price levels in District of Columbia
| BEA RPP 2024 | District of Columbia | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 109.9 | +9.9% |
| Goods | 106.5 | +6.5% |
| Housing (rents) | 155.0 | +55.0% |
| Utilities | 112.8 | +12.8% |
| Other services | 103.0 | +3.0% |
Metros in District of Columbia
Metros whose principal city is in District of Columbia. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | 6,465,724 | 108.9 | $2,438 | $490 | $81 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Taxes in District of Columbia (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| District of Columbia income tax | $1,900 | $3,500 | $7,325 | $6,050 |
| District of Columbia payroll taxes | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,371 | $4,841 | $7,160 | $8,261 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro). On $75,000, District of Columbia’s income and payroll taxes cost $3,500 a year more than in a state without them (federal taxes are the same: $13,408).
Childcare prices across District of Columbia
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $490 | $31,147 | $400 |
| Toddler (2) | $451 | $28,642 | $393 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $393 | $24,949 | $368 |
| School-age (5–12) | — | — | — |
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 1 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $737,100 | $4,312 | 0.58% |
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from District of Columbia
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 52,701 in, 53,452 out (net −751).
- Virginia7,200 ±2,204
- Maryland6,926 ±1,523
- California4,559 ±1,174
- Pennsylvania3,843 ±2,232
- New York3,117 ±916
- Illinois2,821 ±1,669
- New Jersey2,547 ±899
- Colorado2,351 ±1,968
- Maryland16,780 ±3,634
- Virginia9,953 ±2,300
- New York4,795 ±1,495
- Pennsylvania2,360 ±1,347
- Texas2,287 ±1,387
- California2,128 ±808
- North Carolina2,078 ±1,773
- Florida1,878 ±889
Frequently asked questions
Is District of Columbia expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put District of Columbia’s overall price level at 109.9 in 2024 (US = 100), the 3rd highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 155.0 and goods 106.5.
Does District of Columbia have a state income tax?+
Yes. A single filer earning $75,000 owes about $3,500 in District of Columbia income tax under 2026 law (4.7% of pay).
What is the sales tax in District of Columbia?+
The state rate is 6% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are exempt from the state rate. Local sales taxes can add to this. Under current law the state rate changes to 7% on 2027-10-01; our budgets use today’s rate.