What it actually costs to live in
District of Columbia, DC.
Living wage breakdown for District of Columbia, Washington, D.C. — by household size.
Living wage by household size
| Household | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Adult | $24.16 | $50,248 |
| 1 Adult, 1 Child | $36.55 | $76,025 |
| 1 Adult, 2 Children | $48.12 | $100,091 |
| 1 Adult, 3 Children | $59.46 | $123,669 |
| 2 Adults (1 working) | $31.23 | $64,952 |
| 2 Adults, 1 Child | $44.01 | $91,543 |
| 2 Adults, 2 Children | $55.20 | $114,811 |
| 2 Adults, 3 Children | $66.14 | $137,579 |
Annual cost breakdown (1 Adult)
| Category | Annual Cost | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | $18,666 | $1,556 |
| Food | $5,634 | $470 |
| Medical | $4,359 | $363 |
| Transportation | $6,517 | $543 |
| Childcare | $0 | $0 |
| Civic & Other | $2,663 | $222 |
| Personal & Misc | $3,364 | $280 |
| Taxes | $9,045 | $754 |
| Total | $50,248 | $4,187 |
Wage comparison
Living wage$24.16/hr
Minimum wage$17.50/hr
Poverty wage$7.52/hr
Have a salary in mind for District of Columbia?
Check a salary →Data calculated from HUD, BLS, USDA, and Census data (2025). Methodology based on MIT Living Wage Calculator research.