State cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Cost of Living in District of Columbia
Statewide Regional Price Parities for District of Columbia from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100, across 1 metro areas.
- 109.9
- Statewide RPP
- #3
- of 51 states by cost
- 155.0
- Rents RPP
- 1
- Metro areas
District of Columbia ranks #3 of 51 states by cost, and its statewide price index has fallen 2.5 points since 2008.
- falling since 2008
- fell -0.8 points in the 2023-2024 release
- similar cost to Hawaii
The verdict
District of Columbia is more expensive than 94% of U.S. states, a statewide cost index of 109.9, 9.9% above the national average.
- Rents
- furthest category from 100, at 155.0
- Hawaii
- closest statewide cost peer, 0.0 points away
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
- highest-cost metro, 108.9
- top 6%
- national statewide placement
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $90,991 when earned in District of Columbia.
Metro areas in District of Columbia, ranked by cost
| Metro area | Overall | Goods | Services | Rents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | 108.9 | 104.8 | 106.7 | 151.1 |
The Rents RPP index measures housing costs relative to the national average (100). For the federal 40th-percentile Fair Market Rent by bedroom size and county, see the HUD Fair Market Rents dataset.
Latest BEA release change
What changed from 2023 to 2024
District of Columbia's overall RPP fell -0.8 points, from 110.7 in 2023 to 109.9 in 2024. The largest category move was rents, changing from 168.1 to 155.0. RPP is a relative price index, so this reports a change against the national benchmark rather than a household's dollar bill.
District of Columbia RPP history, 2008–2024
The statewide index has fallen 2.5 points from 2008 to 2024. The line shows every retained BEA release against the national benchmark of 100; the table preserves the component detail.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 112.4 |
| 2009 | 113.0 |
| 2010 | 114.2 |
| 2011 | 114.1 |
| 2012 | 111.6 |
| 2013 | 113.5 |
| 2014 | 114.2 |
| 2015 | 113.3 |
| 2016 | 112.4 |
| 2017 | 110.1 |
| 2018 | 111.3 |
| 2019 | 109.2 |
| 2020 | 110.9 |
| 2021 | 111.6 |
| 2022 | 112.6 |
| 2023 | 110.7 |
| 2024 | 109.9 |
Reading the District of Columbia Cost of Living Picture
District of Columbia's nearest statewide cost peers are Hawaii, California, New Jersey. Those names define the relevant comparison lane: the question is which premium is driven by housing, services, or goods, not whether the state clears the national benchmark. Rents and the lowest category are 48.5 points apart, so the statewide average joins two materially different household experiences.
District of Columbia captures 1 metro area in the BEA dataset, and the range across them is meaningful. With a single metro reporting in the BEA series, the statewide figure reflects that urban anchor directly. For goods the state indexes at 106.5, for services 112.8, and for rents 155.0. Rents run 45.1 points above the statewide index here, so housing is carrying this state's cost position; the goods and services lines would place it noticeably cheaper on their own.
Over time, District of Columbia's statewide index has eased by 2.5 points, narrowing the premium versus lower-cost states. Practically, this means a $100,000 national salary delivers the purchasing power of about $90,991 of national buying power when earned inside District of Columbia, and a household relocating here would need roughly $109,901 to reproduce a $100K lifestyle. With a single reporting metro, this figure carries no internal range to check it against, which is a reason to weight local wage and rent data more heavily than usual.
District of Columbia vs every U.S. state
Where this state sits in the national cost distribution
110 Top 6% higher than 94% of 51 US states
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities · 2024
What this means in District of Columbia
The statewide index is a starting point, cost varies metro to metro within District of Columbia.
- Rents index at 155.0 (55.0% above average) - the largest swing in the RPP. Review the housing line before any relocation decision. Highest rents
- Weighing District of Columbia against another state? Convert your salary to local purchasing power first. Salary calculator
RPP is BEA's annual price-level benchmark (national average = 100) for the data year shown, pair it with local wages and current rents before deciding.
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Cost of living guides →, cheapest and most-expensive rankings, cost of living vs wages, and how BEA constructs RPP data.
States with Similar Cost of Living
These states have RPP indices closest to District of Columbia, making them useful peers for relocation or budget comparison.
Nationwide states with similar overall cost or rent prices
Two BEA RPP-derived peer sets for District of Columbia: nearest states by overall regional price parity and by rents RPP. These are labelled nationwide neighborhoods, distinct from the closest-RPP list above.
Similar overall RPP
Nearest states by overall regional price parity (109.9 here).
Similar rents RPP
Nearest states by rents regional price parity (155.0 here).
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities Index where national average = 100
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is District of Columbia more expensive than the U.S. average?
District of Columbia has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 109.9, meaning it is 9.9% more expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 106.5, services at 112.8, and rents at 155.0.
What salary in District of Columbia equals $100K nationally?
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $109,901 in District of Columbia. Conversely, $100K earned in District of Columbia has the purchasing power of $90,991 at the national average.
Is housing what makes District of Columbia expensive?
Rents in District of Columbia are indexed at 155.0, which is 55.0% above the national average. Housing costs are significantly higher than typical U.S. levels.
Has District of Columbia gotten more affordable over time?
From 2008 to 2024, District of Columbia's overall cost index changed by -2.5 points (from 112.4 to 109.9). The cost of living has been declining.
Which categories pull District of Columbia away from the national average?
The most expensive category in District of Columbia is rents at 155.0, which is 55.0% above the national average. All other categories are at or above the national average.
Data sources
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP), the cost-of-living indices shown on this page
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), gross-rent observations behind the rents component
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI), goods and services price relatives
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), labor-driven services component
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR), 40th-percentile rent cross-reference
Every figure on PlainCost is rendered directly from BEA Regional Price Parity source data, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, our changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of 2024. Rankings measure the published cost-of-living index only; we don't recommend where to live or rate any metro's quality of life.