How much do groceries cost in Washington D.C.?

Basic grocery prices: milk (1L) — $1.17, eggs (12) — $4.97, chicken breast (500g) — $6.00.

Cost of Living in Washington D.C., United States

Prices in the United States — Washington D.C. + 24 more cities, Updated March 2026

Very Expensive

🍜 $23 Business Lunch (incl. drink)

☕ $6.00 Cappuccino

🚌 $110 Monthly Transport Pass

🏠 $2,113 Studio 45m² (normal area)

How much does it cost to live in Washington D.C. alone?

1 person

$3,055

≈ €2,731

To live in Washington D.C. on a moderate budget, you'll need around $3,055/month. That covers renting a studio in a normal area ($2,113), weekday lunches out ($460), weekend casual meals ($104), a daily coffee, tea, or other cheap drinks ($180), a monthly transit pass ($110), and a few taxi rides ($88). No gym, no dining out every night — just everyday life.

How much does it cost to live in Washington D.C. for two?

2 persons

$4,753 ≈ €4,249

If there are two of you, plan on around $4,753 ≈ €4,249/month — a proper apartment ($2,869), meals and daily drinks for both, two transit passes, and more taxi rides.

What does it cost to raise a family in Washington D.C.?

Family

$5,100 ≈ €4,559

With a child, the total comes to around $5,100 ≈ €4,559/month. Kids eat less, rarely pay for transit, but you'll need more taxi rides and little extras add up fast. School fees not included.

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Food & Drinks

How much does eating out cost in Washington D.C.?

Item USD $

🍽️ Business Lunch (incl. drink) $23

🍔 Fast Food Combo Meal $13

🍗 Chicken Breast (500g) $6.00

🥛 Milk (1L) $1.17

🥚 Eggs (12) $4.97

🍅 Tomatoes (1kg) $6.00

🧀 Local Cheese (500g) $11

🍎 Apples (1kg) $3.58

🥔 Potatoes (1kg) $2.51

🍺 Beer 0.5L (supermarket) $7.00

🍷 Wine Bottle (red, table) $20

🥤 Coca-Cola (2L) $3.60

🍞 Bread (2 people, 1 day) $2.75

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Rent & Housing

How much is rent in Washington D.C.?

Item USD $

🏢 Rent 85m² (expensive area) $4,123

🏠 Rent 85m² (normal area) $2,869

💡 Utilities 85m² (2 persons) $243

🏢 Studio 45m² (expensive) $2,989

🏠 Studio 45m² (normal area) $2,113

💡 Utilities 45m² (1 person) $150

📶 Internet (monthly) $61

📺 TV 40" Flat Screen $361

🔲 Microwave (800/900W) $151

🧴 Laundry Detergent (3L) $11

🧹 Cleaning Help (per hour) $44

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Clothing & Shoes

How much do clothes cost in Washington D.C.?

Item USD $

👖 Jeans (Levis 501) $72

👗 Summer Dress (Zara, H&M) $65

👟 Sport Shoes (Nike, Adidas) $126

👞 Leather Business Shoes $154

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Transportation

How much does transport cost in Washington D.C.?

Item USD $

🚗 VW Golf (new) $33,049

⛽ Gasoline (1L) $0.85

🎫 Monthly Transport Pass $110

🚕 Taxi Trip (8km) $22

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Healthcare

How much does healthcare cost in Washington D.C.?

Item USD $

💊 Cold Medicine (6 days) $8.00

💉 Antibiotics (12 doses) $14

🏥 Doctor Visit (15 min) $197

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Personal Care

How much does personal care cost in Washington D.C.?

Item USD $

🧻 Tampons (32 pcs) $10

🧴 Deodorant (50ml) $4.85

🧴 Shampoo (400ml) $4.79

🧻 Toilet Paper (4 rolls) $4.29

🪥 Toothpaste $2.56

💇 Men's Haircut $44

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Entertainment & Leisure

How much does entertainment cost in Washington D.C.?

Item USD $

🍺 Dinner for 2 (pub) $71

🎬 Cinema (2 tickets) $32

🎭 Theater (2 tickets, best) $394

🍝 Italian Dinner for 2 (full) $158

🍸 Cocktail (downtown) $19

☕ Cappuccino $6.00

🍺 Beer in Pub (500ml) $9.00

📱 iPad Wi-Fi 128GB $524

📱 Mobile (1 min, prepaid) $0.40

🏋️ Gym Membership (monthly) $130

🚬 Marlboro Cigarettes $13

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Prices by City

Which city in the United States is the cheapest to live in?

	Washington D.C. ★	New York	Boston	Miami	San Francisco	San Diego
🍽️ Business Lunch (incl. drink)	$23	$29	$23	$32	$25	$23
☕ Cappuccino	$6.00	$6.00	$6.00	$5.91	$7.00	$7.00
🍺 Beer in Pub (500ml)	$9.00	$9.00	$8.00	$8.00	$8.00	$9.00
🎫 Monthly Transport Pass	$110	$131	$90	$103	$118	$72
🏢 Studio 45m² (expensive)	$2,989	$4,008	$3,181	$2,921	$3,497	$3,222

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All Cities in the United States

Average cost of living in other cities

Washington D.C. ~$3,055 (current) Atlanta ~$2,397 Austin ~$2,275 Boston ~$3,400 Chicago ~$2,500 Dallas ~$2,104 Denver ~$2,852 Detroit ~$1,700 Honolulu ~$3,066 Houston ~$2,043 Las Vegas ~$1,993 Los Angeles ~$3,111 Miami ~$3,325 Minneapolis ~$2,015 Nashville ~$2,320 New Orleans ~$1,890 New York ~$3,970 Orlando ~$2,249 Philadelphia ~$2,294 Phoenix ~$2,304 Portland ~$2,327 San Diego ~$3,341 San Francisco ~$3,931 Savannah ~$1,843 Seattle ~$2,795

✓ Verified by Dmitriy

Know.Travel founder · traveler, more than 80 countries

Profile Google Maps

The US is a paradox: a country of massive wealth, but it's actually cheaper to live in the heartland than the megacities. 25 cities create wild variation: from Detroit down south ($1,700/month) to New York on the coast ($3,970/month), with most major cities hovering around $1,700/month. The 19th-century gold rush created an American wealth map that's still accurate today - expensive cities usually grew on resource deposits or became trading hubs. Pro tip for newcomers: factor in state taxes - they differ wildly and they'll bite your budget hard.