Average rent in District of Columbia
The median rent in District of Columbia is $1,931 a month (Census ACS 2024), 30% higher than the U.S. median of $1,487. You need about $77,240 a year to afford it.
Monthly basics in District of Columbia
| Cost | A month | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (median, with utilities paid by renter) | $1,931 | Census ACS 2024 |
| Electricity bill (average home) | $166 | EIA, August 2026 |
| Car insurance, full coverage | $237 | Insurify, Oct 8, 2026 |
| Gas for 1,000 miles | $160 | AAA, Oct 24, 2026 |
| These together | $2,494 | our calculation |
Each line is a state average from a different source and date, so treat the total as a rough guide. Electricity is often already counted in gross rent when the renter pays it, so the total can double-count it. Gas for 1,000 miles assumes 27.2 mpg (EPA average new vehicle).
| State | Median rent | Income needed | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $1,824 | $72,960 | 47 |
| Massachusetts | $1,848 | $73,920 | 48 |
| District of Columbia | $1,931 | $77,240 | 49 |
| Hawaii | $1,942 | $77,680 | 50 |
| California | $2,104 | $84,160 | 51 |
| U.S. median | $1,487 | $59,480 | - |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, median gross rent (B25064), 2024 ACS 1-year, as republished in the Kansas Statistical Abstract (University of Kansas). Year-earlier: 2023 ACS 1-year, State of Hawaii Data Book. Gross rent = rent plus utilities and fuels paid by the renter. Income needed = rent × 12 ÷ 30% (our calculation). Asking rents for listings today are usually higher than this all-renter median.
Plan around it
See what a salary in District of Columbia leaves you after tax with our District of Columbia take-home pay calculator, then split it with the 50/30/20 budget calculator. Thinking of buying instead? Try the rent vs buy calculator.
Common questions
What is the average rent in District of Columbia?
The median gross rent in District of Columbia was $1,931 a month in 2024, per the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. That ranks 49 of 51 (1 = lowest). A year earlier it was $1,904.
How much do you need to make to afford rent in District of Columbia?
About $77,240 a year before tax, so the median rent of $1,931 is 30% of income, a common rule of thumb (our calculation).
Is rent in District of Columbia going up?
Median rent rose 1.4% in a year, from $1,904 to $1,931 (Census ACS, our calculation). Survey figures for a single year have a margin of error, so small changes may not be meaningful.