United States
The nation's capital, packed with free Smithsonian museums, iconic monuments, and a cosmopolitan dining scene. A city shaped by politics, diplomacy, and diverse neighborhoods.
#27 of 250
103% above average
Monthly cost, one adult
$ 2 922
Based on NYC = 100 index
Washington DC is the 27. most expensive of the 250 cities we track — a month here comes to $ 2 922 for one adult.
Most of that goes on housing, which runs 84% above the median city and adds $ 875 a month: 1br apartment (city center) $ 2 100, 1br apartment (outside center) $ 1 733. It is also pricier than usual for restaurants.
Cheaper here than almost anywhere else is clothing, 43% below the median: jeans (levis or similar) $ 55, summer dress (chain store) $ 38.
Percentages compare this city against the median of all tracked cities, category by category.
38 prices on this page come from live scrapers (14 sources, observed October 7, 2026 to October 13, 2026). They are free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: credit CostCompass and link this page.
CostCompass (2026). Cost of living in Washington DC, United States. Data as of 2026-10-14. https://costcompass.net/living/cities/washington-dc. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
| Item | Price (USD) | Observations | Last observed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (City Center) | 2,100.00 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Craigslist |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside Center) | 1,733.00 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Craigslist |
| 3BR Apartment (City Center) | 3,850.00 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Craigslist |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside Center) | 2,510.00 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Craigslist |
| Chicken Breast (1kg) | 9.20 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Pork (1kg) | 9.35 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Beef (1kg) | 15.78 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Deli Meat / Ham (1kg) | 9.71 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Milk (1 liter) | 1.12 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Yogurt (150g) | 1.05 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Cheese (1kg) | 13.19 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Butter (200g) | 1.77 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Eggs (12) | 2.27 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Bread (500g) | 2.01 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Pasta (500g) | 1.51 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Rice (1kg) | 2.45 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Potatoes (1kg) | 2.15 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Tomatoes (1kg) | 4.36 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 2.06 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Banana (1kg) | 1.44 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Oranges (1kg) | 3.77 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Flour (1kg) | 1.21 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Sugar (1kg) | 2.26 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Coffee (250g) | 5.13 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | BLS Average Prices |
| Domestic Beer (0.5L) | 8.13 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Pub & Bar Drinks Menus |
| Imported Beer (0.33L) | 8.00 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Pub & Bar Drinks Menus |
| One-way Ticket | 2.25 / trip | 1 | 2026-10-13 | City Transit Fares |
| Taxi Start | 4.00 / trip | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Official Taxi Tariffs |
| Taxi 1km | 1.59 / km | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Official Taxi Tariffs |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | 1.17 / liter | 1 | 2026-10-13 | AAA State Gas Price Averages |
| Basic Utilities (85m2 Apt) | 72.01 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Official Electricity Tariffs |
| Mobile Plan (10GB+) | 35.00 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Telecom Operators |
| Internet (60 Mbps+) | 50.00 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | T-Mobile Home Internet |
| Cinema Ticket | 15.75 / ticket | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Cinema Ticket Prices (Americas) |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | 25.00 / hour | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Tennis Court Hire Prices (Americas) |
| Cold Medicine (6 days) | 5.83 / item | 1 | 2026-10-07 | Global Local Pharmacies |
| Jeans (Levis or Similar) | 54.61 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Uniqlo, H&M |
| Summer Dress (Chain Store) | 37.95 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Uniqlo, H&M |
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Monthly average costs by category
$ 1 917
per month
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per month
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per month
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per month
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per month
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per month
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per month
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per month