Cost of living in Washington

In Washington, United States, a single person typically needs around $3139 per month including rent. A family of four may spend about $7694 monthly.

How expensive is Washington compared to other cities?

Compared to the European benchmark, Washington is 120% more expensive overall.

How does Washington compare to your city?

Washington is 25% cheaper than New York City, without rent.

Rent in Washington is, on average, 21% lower than in New York City.

What drives the cost of living in Washington?

Who is Washington a good fit for?

Washington tends to fit higher-income residents who can comfortably absorb housing costs. It can be challenging on a moderate budget, mainly due to rent and utilities.

FAQ

Why is Washington so expensive?

The primary driver of Washington's high cost of living is rent and utilities, which significantly impact overall expenses.

Is food expensive in Washington?

Yes, food costs are 52% higher compared to the European benchmark.

Is public transport affordable in Washington?

Public transport fares are 110% higher than the European benchmark, making it less affordable.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
3139 $
Without Rent
1074 $
Rent & Utilities
2066 $
Food
724 $
Transport
157 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
5811 $
GDP per Capita
81,695 $
Freedom Index
8.39
Lifespan
77 years
Speak English
96%
Population
690.0K

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Update Prices

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 22.2 $
Dinner 89.8 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 12 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 8.31 $
Capuccino 5.45 $
Coke, 330ml 2.72 $

Compare Washington with:

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 1.13 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 3.65 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.18 $
Eggs, 12 pack 5.36 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 15.3 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 15.3 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 18.5 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 5.12 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.91 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 5.27 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 5.53 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 3.05 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 3.48 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 1.7 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 3.1 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 16.5 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 3.01 $
Cigarette pack 12.1 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 2.63 $
Monthly Pass 80.4 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 0.96 $
Taxi, 8 km 22.8 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 106 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 9.26 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 4.83 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 4.96 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 2.56 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 122 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 189 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 65 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 1,786 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 3,476 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 2,248 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 4,843 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 9,758 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 6,572 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 5,811 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 6.51%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 99.1 $
Cinema, 1 seat 16.4 $
Haircut 32.5 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 109 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 73.1 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 2,258 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 23,453 $

Compare Washington with other top cities

Cayman Islands
Washington vs George Town (George Town is 16% more expensive)
Bahamas
Washington vs Nassau (Nassau is 12% less expensive) Washington vs Freeport (Freeport is 30% less expensive)
Vanuatu
Washington vs Port Vila (Port Vila is 25% less expensive) Washington vs Luganville (Luganville is 3% less expensive)
United States
Washington vs New York City (New York City is 29% more expensive) Washington vs Los Angeles (Los Angeles is 2% more expensive) Washington vs Chicago (Chicago is 15% less expensive) Washington vs Houston (Houston is 28% less expensive) Washington vs Phoenix (Phoenix is 25% less expensive) Washington vs Philadelphia (Philadelphia is 19% less expensive) Washington vs San Antonio (San Antonio is 30% less expensive) Washington vs San Diego (San Diego is 7% more expensive) Washington vs Dallas (Dallas is 19% less expensive) Washington vs San Jose (San Jose is 17% more expensive)
Canada
Washington vs Toronto (Toronto is 18% less expensive) Washington vs Montreal (Montreal is 38% less expensive) Washington vs Calgary (Calgary is 32% less expensive) Washington vs Ottawa (Ottawa is 29% less expensive) Washington vs Edmonton (Edmonton is 43% less expensive) Washington vs Winnipeg (Winnipeg is 44% less expensive) Washington vs Mississauga (Mississauga is 21% less expensive) Washington vs Vancouver (Vancouver is 16% less expensive) Washington vs Brampton (Brampton is 32% less expensive) Washington vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 31% less expensive)
Barbados
Washington vs Bridgetown (Bridgetown is 57% less expensive) Washington vs Holetown (Holetown is 56% less expensive)
Panama
Washington vs Panama City (Panama City is 56% less expensive) Washington vs Colon (Colon is 62% less expensive) Washington vs Tocumen (Tocumen is 61% less expensive) Washington vs Santiago de Veraguas (Santiago de Veraguas is 66% less expensive) Washington vs David (David is 73% less expensive) Washington vs La Chorrera (La Chorrera is 70% less expensive) Washington vs Balboa (Balboa is 60% less expensive) Washington vs Pacora (Pacora is 60% less expensive) Washington vs Chitre (Chitre is 65% less expensive) Washington vs Penonome (Penonome is 65% less expensive)
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Washington vs Basseterre (Basseterre is 60% less expensive) Washington vs Cayon (Cayon is 60% less expensive)
Cuba
Washington vs Havana (Havana is 67% less expensive) Washington vs Santiago de Cuba (Santiago de Cuba is 55% less expensive) Washington vs Holguin (Holguin is 59% less expensive) Washington vs Camaguey (Camaguey is 51% less expensive) Washington vs Santa Clara (Santa Clara is 66% less expensive) Washington vs Bayamo (Bayamo is 63% less expensive) Washington vs Guantanamo (Guantanamo is 50% less expensive) Washington vs Las Tunas (Las Tunas is 50% less expensive) Washington vs Pinar del Rio (Pinar del Rio is 65% less expensive) Washington vs Cienfuegos (Cienfuegos is 72% less expensive)
Costa Rica
Washington vs San Jose (San Jose is 61% less expensive) Washington vs Limon (Limon is 62% less expensive) Washington vs Liberia (Liberia is 71% less expensive) Washington vs Alajuela (Alajuela is 61% less expensive) Washington vs Puntarenas (Puntarenas is 59% less expensive) Washington vs Cartago (Cartago is 69% less expensive) Washington vs Heredia (Heredia is 60% less expensive) Washington vs Tamarindo (Tamarindo is 46% less expensive) Washington vs Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa is 58% less expensive)
Saint Lucia
Washington vs Castries (Castries is 63% less expensive) Washington vs Vieux Fort (Vieux Fort is 62% less expensive)
Jamaica
Washington vs Kingston (Kingston is 58% less expensive) Washington vs Spanish Town (Spanish Town is 75% less expensive) Washington vs Montego Bay (Montego Bay is 68% less expensive) Washington vs Half Way Tree (Half Way Tree is 63% less expensive) Washington vs May Pen (May Pen is 74% less expensive) Washington vs Mandeville (Mandeville is 69% less expensive) Washington vs Old Harbour (Old Harbour is 73% less expensive) Washington vs Linstead (Linstead is 67% less expensive) Washington vs Savanna-la-Mar (Savanna-la-Mar is 64% less expensive) Washington vs Port Antonio (Port Antonio is 64% less expensive)
El Salvador
Washington vs San Salvador (San Salvador is 62% less expensive) Washington vs Santa Ana (Santa Ana is 77% less expensive) Washington vs Soyapango (Soyapango is 63% less expensive) Washington vs San Miguel (San Miguel is 66% less expensive) Washington vs Mejicanos (Mejicanos is 63% less expensive) Washington vs Apopa (Apopa is 64% less expensive) Washington vs Santa Tecla (Santa Tecla is 62% less expensive) Washington vs Ahuachapan (Ahuachapan is 54% less expensive) Washington vs Usulutan (Usulutan is 65% less expensive) Washington vs Sonsonate (Sonsonate is 72% less expensive)
Antigua And Barbuda
Washington vs St. John's (St. John's is 65% less expensive) Washington vs All Saints (All Saints is 66% less expensive)
Grenada
Washington vs St. George's (St. George's is 66% less expensive) Washington vs Grenville (Grenville is 66% less expensive)
Dominica
Washington vs Roseau (Roseau is 68% less expensive) Washington vs Portsmouth (Portsmouth is 64% less expensive)
Saint Vincent
Washington vs Kingstown (Kingstown is 69% less expensive) Washington vs Georgetown (Georgetown is 68% less expensive)
Belize
Washington vs Belize City (Belize City is 72% less expensive) Washington vs San Ignacio (San Ignacio is 65% less expensive) Washington vs Belmopan (Belmopan is 77% less expensive) Washington vs San Pedro Town (San Pedro Town is 58% less expensive) Washington vs Caye Caulker (Caye Caulker is 50% less expensive)
Guatemala
Washington vs Guatemala City (Guatemala City is 68% less expensive) Washington vs Mixco (Mixco is 80% less expensive) Washington vs Coban (Coban is 71% less expensive) Washington vs Quetzaltenango (Quetzaltenango is 75% less expensive) Washington vs Jalapa (Jalapa is 71% less expensive) Washington vs San Miguel Petapa (San Miguel Petapa is 71% less expensive) Washington vs Momostenango (Momostenango is 72% less expensive) Washington vs Mazatenango (Mazatenango is 72% less expensive) Washington vs Flores (Flores is 73% less expensive) Washington vs Panajachel (Panajachel is 75% less expensive)
Honduras
Washington vs Tegucigalpa (Tegucigalpa is 74% less expensive) Washington vs San Pedro Sula (San Pedro Sula is 67% less expensive) Washington vs Choloma (Choloma is 81% less expensive) Washington vs La Ceiba (La Ceiba is 79% less expensive) Washington vs El Progreso (El Progreso is 72% less expensive) Washington vs Villanueva (Villanueva is 72% less expensive) Washington vs Comayagua (Comayagua is 77% less expensive) Washington vs Puerto Cortes (Puerto Cortes is 77% less expensive) Washington vs Yoro (Yoro is 77% less expensive) Washington vs La Lima (La Lima is 72% less expensive)
Dominican Republic
Washington vs Santiago de los Caballeros (Santiago de los Caballeros is 75% less expensive) Washington vs Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo is 67% less expensive) Washington vs Puerto Plata (Puerto Plata is 76% less expensive) Washington vs Higuey (Higuey is 76% less expensive) Washington vs La Vega (La Vega is 82% less expensive) Washington vs San Cristobal (San Cristobal is 74% less expensive) Washington vs San Pedro de Macoris (San Pedro de Macoris is 77% less expensive) Washington vs San Francisco de Macoris (San Francisco de Macoris is 83% less expensive) Washington vs San Juan de la Maguana (San Juan de la Maguana is 80% less expensive) Washington vs Bonao (Bonao is 83% less expensive)
Nicaragua
Washington vs Managua (Managua is 75% less expensive) Washington vs Leon (Leon is 80% less expensive) Washington vs Masaya (Masaya is 77% less expensive) Washington vs Matagalpa (Matagalpa is 82% less expensive) Washington vs Chinandega (Chinandega is 80% less expensive) Washington vs Esteli (Esteli is 81% less expensive) Washington vs Granada (Granada is 78% less expensive) Washington vs Jinotega (Jinotega is 85% less expensive) Washington vs Juigalpa (Juigalpa is 79% less expensive) Washington vs San Juan del Sur (San Juan del Sur is 72% less expensive)