Cost of Living Comparison Between Arlington, VA and Washington, DC 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Washington, DC is 11.1% higher than in Arlington, VA (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Washington, DC is 10.9% higher than in Arlington, VA | |
| Rent Prices in Washington, DC are 10.6% higher than in Arlington, VA | |
| Restaurant Prices in Washington, DC are 19.8% higher than in Arlington, VA | |
| Groceries Prices in Washington, DC are 0.8% lower than in Arlington, VA | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Washington, DC is 16.3% lower than in Arlington, VA | |
Restaurants | Arlington, VA Edit |
Washington, DC Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | 21.25 $ | 27.50 $ | +29.4 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | 95.00 $ | 120.00 $ | +26.3 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | 11.00 $ | 12.00 $ | +9.1 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | 8.00 $ | 8.00 $ | 0.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 9.00 $ | 10.00 $ | +11.1 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | 5.77 $ | 6.07 $ | +5.3 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | 2.97 $ | 3.44 $ | +15.9 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | 2.63 $ | 2.89 $ | +10.1 % |
Markets | Arlington, VA Edit |
Washington, DC Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | 1.19 $ | 1.13 $ | -5.0 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | 3.97 $ | 4.02 $ | +1.3 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | 2.44 $ | 2.73 $ | +12.1 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | 4.68 $ | 4.66 $ | -0.4 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 9.86 $ | 7.14 $ | -27.6 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 6.78 $ | 7.42 $ | +9.3 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | 10.34 $ | 8.77 $ | -15.2 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | 2.71 $ | 2.86 $ | +5.5 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | 0.85 $ | 0.84 $ | -0.4 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 2.11 $ | 2.18 $ | +3.4 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | 2.64 $ | 2.81 $ | +6.4 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | 1.47 $ | 1.35 $ | -8.0 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | 1.73 $ | 1.61 $ | -7.0 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | 2.32 $ | 2.48 $ | +7.0 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | 2.51 $ | 2.51 $ | +0.1 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 17.00 $ | 16.00 $ | -5.9 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | 2.11 $ | 3.08 $ | +46.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 3.08 $ | 4.41 $ | +43.0 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | 10.55 $ | 13.94 $ | +32.1 % |
Transportation | Arlington, VA Edit |
Washington, DC Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | 3.00 $ | 2.55 $ | -15.0 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | 100.00 $ | 90.00 $ | -10.0 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | 4.00 $ | 4.00 $ | 0.0 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | 2.00 $ | 2.56 $ | +28.0 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | 25.00 $ | 25.10 $ | +0.4 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | 0.82 $ | 0.91 $ | +10.9 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | 35,463.99 $ | 36,375.00 $ | +2.6 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | 25,199.43 $ | 26,252.71 $ | +4.2 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Arlington, VA Edit |
Washington, DC Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 163.34 $ | 192.07 $ | +17.6 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | 43.66 $ | 65.77 $ | +50.7 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | 65.34 $ | 72.61 $ | +11.1 % |
Sports And Leisure | Arlington, VA Edit |
Washington, DC Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | 64.80 $ | 107.94 $ | +66.6 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | 19.00 $ | 38.41 $ | +102.2 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | 18.00 $ | 17.00 $ | -5.6 % |
Childcare | Arlington, VA Edit |
Washington, DC Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | 1,678.33 $ | 2,784.29 $ | +65.9 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | 36,066.67 $ | 43,600.00 $ | +20.9 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Arlington, VA Edit |
Washington, DC Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | 55.33 $ | 71.73 $ | +29.6 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | 52.38 $ | 47.75 $ | -8.8 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 102.08 $ | 103.27 $ | +1.2 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | 163.19 $ | 132.83 $ | -18.6 % |
Rent Per Month | Arlington, VA Edit |
Washington, DC Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 2,479.09 $ | 2,601.40 $ | +4.9 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 1,951.43 $ | 2,094.52 $ | +7.3 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 4,716.67 $ | 5,241.33 $ | +11.1 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 3,626.67 $ | 4,187.50 $ | +15.5 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Arlington, VA Edit |
Washington, DC Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 489.34 $ | 795.83 $ | +62.6 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 398.97 $ | 368.91 $ | -7.5 % |
Salaries And Financing | Arlington, VA Edit |
Washington, DC Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 6,577.91 $ | 6,105.96 $ | -7.2 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.40 | 6.32 | -1.2 % |
| Last update: | 6 December 2025 | 6 December 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 37 | 165 |
Moving to Arlington, VA? Explore:
Moving to Washington, DC? Explore:
Cities near Arlington, VA: | Cost of Living in Washington, District of Columbia | 4.33 miles |
| Cost of Living in Chevy Chase, Maryland | 10.90 miles |
| Cost of Living in Rockville, Maryland | 20.22 miles |
| Cost of Living in Baltimore, Maryland | 45.40 miles |
| Cost of Living in Fredericksburg, Virginia | 50.30 miles |
| Cost of Living in Lexington Park, Maryland | 65.29 miles |
| Cost of Living in Richmond, Virginia | 104.70 miles |
| Cost of Living in Lancaster, Pennsylvania | 117.70 miles |
| Cost of Living in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | 119.94 miles |
| Cost of Living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 142.62 miles |
Cities near Washington, DC: | Cost of Living in Arlington, Virginia | 4.38 miles |
| Cost of Living in Chevy Chase, Maryland | 7.01 miles |
| Cost of Living in Springfield, Virginia | 13.51 miles |
| Cost of Living in Rockville, Maryland | 17.91 miles |
| Cost of Living in Baltimore, Maryland | 38.92 miles |
| Cost of Living in Fredericksburg, Virginia | 52.45 miles |
| Cost of Living in Lexington Park, Maryland | 61.00 miles |
| Cost of Living in Richmond, Virginia | 106.83 miles |
| Cost of Living in Lancaster, Pennsylvania | 113.70 miles |
| Cost of Living in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | 117.62 miles |