Washington, District of Columbia
In Washington, District of Columbia, a gallon of regular gas costs $4.20 as of 2026-04-01 — $0.13 above the national average of $4.06. The average monthly rent for all unit types is $2,600, compared to the national average of $1,900. Grocery inflation is running at 5.27% year-over-year. Since 2022, bread prices have increased significantly while egg prices have been volatile due to avian flu outbreaks. Washington's cost-of-living index of 132 puts it above the national average of 100.
Key Numbers
Gas (Regular)
$4.20
National: $4.06
Avg Rent (All)
$2,600
National: $1,900
Grocery Inflation
5.27%
Year-over-year
Fast Food Avg
$15.00
Combo meal
Electricity
23.72¢
per kWh · ~$213/mo
Car Insurance
$215/mo
$2,580/yr
Median Household Income
$106,287
36.5% goes to essentials
Car Insurance
Avg $2,580 in Washington. Compare rates:
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Some prices above are regional estimates. Submit a receipt from a local store to help us show what Washington residents actually pay.
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Find Apartments
Avg rent $2,600/mo in Washington. Browse listings:
Grocery Prices
Grocery Prices — 2000 to Present
National BLS averages · submit local prices below ↓
Eggs (dozen)
Bird flu volatility
$2.58 BLS avg
Milk (gallon)
$4.10 BLS avg
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.75 BLS avg
Bread (loaf)
$1.84 BLS avg
Chicken Breast (lb)
$2.04 BLS avg
Butter (lb)
$6.26 BLS avg
Bacon (lb)
$9.62 BLS avg
Cheddar Cheese (lb)
$8.34 BLS avg
Pasta (lb)
$2.37 BLS avg
Rice (5 lb)
$6.50 BLS avg
Coffee (12 oz)
$14.83 BLS avg
Orange Juice (64 oz)
Citrus shortage
$6.36 BLS avg
Potatoes (5 lb)
$5.77 BLS avg
Apples (3 lb)
$5.81 BLS avg
Tomatoes (lb)
$3.62 BLS avg
Lettuce (head)
$2.81 BLS avg
Cooking Oil (48 oz)
$9.81 BLS avg
Yogurt (32 oz)
$6.03 BLS avg
Cereal (family size)
$7.56 BLS avg
Frozen Pizza
$10.07 BLS avg
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2026 | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs (dozen)Bird flu volatility | — | — | — | — | — | $1.93 | $2.58 | +156.4% |
| Milk (gallon) | — | — | — | — | — | $3.79 | $4.10 | +44.6% |
| Ground Beef (lb) | — | — | — | — | — | $4.55 | $6.75 | +354.4% |
| Bread (loaf) | — | — | — | — | — | $1.55 | $1.84 | +104.0% |
| Chicken Breast (lb) | — | — | — | — | — | $1.62 | $2.04 | +93.5% |
| Butter (lb) | — | — | — | — | — | $5.02 | $6.26 | +24.7% |
| Bacon (lb) | — | — | — | — | — | $7.69 | $9.62 | +25.1% |
| Cheddar Cheese (lb) | — | — | — | — | — | $7.08 | $8.34 | +17.8% |
| Pasta (lb) | — | — | — | — | — | $1.79 | $2.37 | +32.4% |
| Rice (5 lb) | — | — | — | — | — | $5.33 | $6.50 | +22.0% |
| Coffee (12 oz) | — | — | — | — | — | $10.27 | $14.83 | +44.4% |
| Orange Juice (64 oz)Citrus shortage | — | — | — | — | — | $4.59 | $6.36 | +38.6% |
| Potatoes (5 lb) | — | — | — | — | — | $4.93 | $5.77 | +17.0% |
| Apples (3 lb) | — | — | — | — | — | $5.33 | $5.81 | +9.0% |
| Tomatoes (lb) | — | — | — | — | — | $2.79 | $3.62 | +29.7% |
| Lettuce (head) | — | — | — | — | — | $2.17 | $2.81 | +29.5% |
| Cooking Oil (48 oz) | — | — | — | — | — | $6.78 | $9.81 | +44.7% |
| Yogurt (32 oz) | — | — | — | — | — | $5.12 | $6.03 | +17.8% |
| Cereal (family size) | — | — | — | — | — | $5.91 | $7.56 | +27.9% |
| Frozen Pizza | — | — | — | — | — | $7.26 | $10.07 | +38.7% |
Dining & Restaurants
Fast Food Meal
$15.00
Casual Dining
$39.14
Monthly Spend
$643.95
+4.51% YoYChain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today
Combo meal / typical order for one
McDonald's
2022: $12.87
$20.75
+61.2%Wendy's
2022: $14.52
$22.41
+54.3%Chipotle
2022: $15.56
$23.24
+49.4%Starbucks
2022: $6.65
$9.23
+38.8%Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.
Looking for an Apartment in Washington?
Average 1BR: $2,028/mo · 2BR: $3,068/mo
Local Workforce
2024 · BLS QCEWTotal Jobs
760k
Median Weekly Pay
$2,365
$123k/yr
Top Sector
Professional & Business Services
Household vs Worker Pay
$106k
household median
Employment by Sector — Washington
% of local workforce · avg weekly wage · 5-year growth trend
~$155k/yr
~$85k/yr
~$53k/yr
~$119k/yr
~$87k/yr
Source: BLS QCEW 2024 Annual · County FIPS 11001
Highest Paying Sector
Information
$4,262/wk · $222k/yr
Most Workers (lowest wage)
Leisure & Hospitality
$1,011/wk · $53k/yr
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