Cost of living, Washington
108.9
BEA Regional Price Parity vs US average of 100 (2024). Washington sits about 8.9% above national prices.
BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA RPP all-items, 2024. Disclaimer
- vs US
- +8.9%
- Metro
- Washington
- CBSA
- 47900
Washington all-items RPP is 108.9 (2024), about 8.9% above US-average prices. A $90,000 salary at national prices maps to about $98,010 here for equal purchasing power.
Price components in Washington
| Component | Washington | US |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 108.9 | 100 |
| Goods | 104.8 | 100 |
| Housing (rents) | 151.1 | 100 |
| Other services | 102.3 | 100 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, US = 100.
What a US-average salary buys in Washington
| At US average | In Washington |
|---|---|
| $60,000 | $65,340 |
| $90,000 | $98,010 |
| $150,000 | $163,350 |
Local equivalent = national salary × (108.9 ÷ 100). BEA RPP 2024.
Top wages here
FAQ
- What is the cost of living in Washington?
- The BEA Regional Price Parity (all items, 2024) for Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is 108.9, versus a US average of 100 (+8.9%).
- How is RPP different from CPI?
- CPI tracks price change over time. RPP compares price levels across places in a given year versus the national average of 100. PayByCity uses RPP for cross-metro purchasing power, including goods, housing rents, and other services components.
- How should I use this with OEWS wages?
- Pair local BLS OEWS medians (May 2025) with this RPP. A $90,000 salary at US-average prices maps to about $98,010 in Washington for equal purchasing power.
- Does this include taxes or housing alone?
- No. All-items RPP is a broad price-level index. Component indexes show goods, rents, and other services separately, but this is not a rent quote, tax estimate, or household budget.
What this covers
Includes
- BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
- BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
- Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)
Does not include
- Federal, state, or local income taxes
- Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
- Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand
Highest wages here
- Physicians, All Other , 10,650 OEWS emp. $208,710
- Lawyers , 46,840 OEWS emp. $195,190
- Computer and Information Systems Managers , 20,800 OEWS emp. $195,190
- Financial Managers , 26,430 OEWS emp. $185,270
- Architectural and Engineering Managers , 5,500 OEWS emp. $185,220
- Marketing Managers , 8,900 OEWS emp. $181,260
See methodology and disclaimer.