Washington, DC

Cost of Living in Washington, DC (2026): Rent, Utilities & Take-Home

$4,018/mo in Washington. $2,913 left each month. Prices 13% above the US average.

Compare vs Chicago Rank metros from WashingtonHow we figure this

Monthly costs

Take-home $6,931/mo.

Taxes$2,763
Rent$1,916
Other living costs$2,102
Left over$2,913

Pay and tax, per year

Gross household pay: $116,324
Federal income tax: −$17,205
Social Security and Medicare: −$8,899
State income tax (DC): −$7,047
Take-home pay: $83,173
Effective tax rate: 28.5%

Living costs, per month

Rent, 1br: $1,916
Groceries: $452
Getting around: $463
Healthcare: $508
Utilities and internet: $283
Everything else: $395
Total spending: $4,018

Left over each month

$9,694 gross, minus $2,763 in tax and $4,018 in living costs.

$2,913

Average electric bill in District of Columbia

About $197 a month for a household using 900 kWh. That is the EIA residential price for District of Columbia in 2025, 21.92¢ per kWh. It is a state average, not a Washington utility bill, and the utilities line in the monthly costs above already includes a modelled power cost.

Cost of Living in Washington, DC (2026): Rent, Utilities & Take-Home

Monthly costs

Pay and tax, per year

Living costs, per month

Average electric bill in District of Columbia

Moving from Washington

Take-home by job in Washington

Other District of Columbia metros

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