How much does it cost to rent in Washington, DC?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Washington, DC is $2,532. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Washington cheaper than other District of Columbia cities?

Washington is one of the pricier cities in District of Columbia, ranking #1 out of 1 cities tracked at $2,532/mo.

When was Washington rent data last updated?

Washington rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

Andy He / Unsplash

City Report · DC

Washington

Name: Average Rent Prices in Washington, DC
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 681,294·1st most expensive in District of Columbia·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$2,532/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.2%

Month-over-Month

+1.4%

vs US Median

+$567

Rising (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Washington rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Washington · $2,532

More expensive than 81% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

52/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Washington's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$2,532/mo

Expected by trend

$2,551/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Washington's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,145

1 BR

$2,192

2 BR

$2,467

3 BR

$3,086

4 BR+

$3,638

Research median

$2,467/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$30,384/yr

At $2,532/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.2% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.2% YoY, +1.4% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Washington, DC is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 64.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

681,294

Median income

$109,870

Median age

34.9

Renters

58.5%

Age distribution

18.7%

31.6%

27.3%

12.8%

Under 1818.7%

18–3431.6%

35–5427.3%

55–649.6%

65+12.8%

Gender

47.5%

52.5%

Male47.5%

Female52.5%

Race & ethnicity

37.9%

42.1%

White37.9%

Black42.1%

Hispanic11.9%

Asian4.4%

Other3.7%

Education (25+)

14.5%

13.9%

64.2%

No HS diploma7.3%

HS diploma14.5%

Some college13.9%

Bachelor's+64.2%

Housing tenure

41.5%

58.5%

Owner41.5%

Renter58.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Washington, DC has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,063 → $2,532

up 22.7%

Income

$93,547 → $109,870

up 17.4%

Population

683,154 → 681,294

down 0.3%

Renter share

58.5% → 58.5%

+0.0 pts

Bachelor's+

61.4% → 64.2%

+2.8 pts

Median age

34.3 → 34.9

+0.6 yrs

Rent in Washington, DC has increased 22.7% since 2021, going from about $2,063 per month to roughly $2,532 today. Median household income grew from $93,547 to $109,870 between 2021 and 2024, a 17.4% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 5.3 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 61.4% to 64.2%. Taken together, the five-year picture in Washington, DC reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about Washington

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View Washington rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Washington on your salary?

At $2,532/mo, how Washington rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $118,100/yr · Rent = 25.7% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $83,850/yr · Rent = 36.2% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $96,588/yr · Rent = 31.5% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $172,638/yr · Rent = 17.6% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $220,588/yr · Rent = 13.8% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $78,513/yr · Rent = 38.7% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $70,888/yr · Rent = 42.9% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $87,375/yr · Rent = 34.8% income

stretched

By apartment size

Washington rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Washington. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Washington

About renting in Washington, DC

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Washington is $2,532/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,145/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,467/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,192/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,086/mo.

At 28% of local median household income ($109,870/yr), Washington ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Washington an affordable city for renters?

Washington is considered affordable for renters. At $2,532/mo, rent takes approximately 28% of the local median household income ($109,870/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Washington falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Washington?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $101,000/year (~$49/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,532/mo in Washington. The local median household income is $109,870/yr, meaning the typical Washington household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Washington?

Rent in Washington has increased 3.2% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Washington neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Washington are 20032 ($1,573/mo), 20019 ($1,976/mo), and 20006 ($2,027/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Washington is $2,532/mo.

How does Washington rent compare to other cities in District of Columbia?

Washington is one of the pricier cities in District of Columbia for rent, ranking #1 out of 1 tracked cities at $2,532/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Washington?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Washington ($2,532/mo): Takoma Park ($1,623/mo), Chillum ($1,644/mo), Hyattsville ($2,080/mo).

What percentage of Washington residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 58.5% of Washington households are renters, while 41.5% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Washington has a strong rental market.

How does Washington rent compare to the national average?

Washington's median rent of $2,532/mo is $567 (29%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within District of Columbia, it ranks #1 out of 1 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

28%

AFFORDABLE

At $2,532/mo, rent takes ~28% of Washington's median household income ($109,870/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Washington 28%Benchmark 30%

State income tax4–10.75%

Run the Washington affordability calculator →

Nearby cities