Cost of Living Comparison Between Arlington, VA and Washington, DC 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Washington, DC is 12.7% higher than in Arlington, VA (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Washington, DC is 12.1% higher than in Arlington, VA | |
| Rent Prices in Washington, DC are 11.2% higher than in Arlington, VA | |
| Restaurant Prices in Washington, DC are 10.8% higher than in Arlington, VA | |
| Groceries Prices in Washington, DC are 3.8% higher than in Arlington, VA | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Washington, DC is 3.4% lower than in Arlington, VA | |
Restaurants | Arlington, VA Edit |
Washington, DC Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | $24.00 | $26.50 | +10.4 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | $100.00 | $115.00 | +15.0 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | $11.00 | $12.00 | +9.1 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | $8.00 | $8.50 | +6.2 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | $9.00 | $10.00 | +11.1 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | $5.86 | $6.14 | +4.8 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | $3.04 | $3.36 | +10.3 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | $2.46 | $2.74 | +11.2 % |
Markets | Arlington, VA Edit |
Washington, DC Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | $1.23 | $1.18 | -4.0 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | $4.04 | $3.67 | -9.1 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | $2.44 | $3.57 | +46.3 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | $5.16 | $5.71 | +10.8 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | $9.86 | $7.85 | -20.3 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | $7.14 | $8.22 | +15.1 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | $10.34 | $8.94 | -13.5 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | $2.55 | $3.12 | +22.6 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | $0.85 | $1.05 | +24.8 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | $2.11 | $2.27 | +7.8 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | $2.64 | $2.44 | -7.8 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | $1.47 | $1.29 | -12.3 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | $1.73 | $1.63 | -5.8 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | $2.32 | $2.55 | +10.0 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | $2.51 | $2.49 | -0.6 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | $17.00 | $16.00 | -5.9 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | $2.11 | $3.28 | +55.5 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | $2.87 | $5.50 | +92.0 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | $10.55 | $13.94 | +32.1 % |
Transportation | Arlington, VA Edit |
Washington, DC Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | $2.75 | $3.00 | +9.1 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | $122.50 | $120.00 | -2.0 % |
| 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 | $25.00 | 0.0 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | $0.92 | $1.01 | +10.1 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | $34,521.50 | $36,375.00 | +5.4 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | $25,098.40 | $25,962.29 | +3.4 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Arlington, VA Edit |
Washington, DC Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | $163.34 | $210.59 | +28.9 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | $57.12 | $80.00 | +40.1 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | $66.45 | $71.86 | +8.1 % |
Sports And Leisure | Arlington, VA Edit |
Washington, DC Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | $82.17 | $117.78 | +43.3 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | $19.00 | $74.17 | +290.4 % |
| 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 | $1,597.92 | $3,221.33 | +101.6 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | $36,066.67 | $41,506.00 | +15.1 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Arlington, VA Edit |
Washington, DC Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | $55.33 | $74.20 | +34.1 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | $62.50 | $44.11 | -29.4 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | $102.08 | $109.89 | +7.6 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | $163.19 | $144.05 | -11.7 % |
Rent Per Month | Arlington, VA Edit |
Washington, DC Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | $2,480.00 | $2,606.88 | +5.1 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | $1,994.29 | $2,120.00 | +6.3 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | $4,860.00 | $5,376.67 | +10.6 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | $3,626.67 | $4,305.56 | +18.7 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Arlington, VA Edit |
Washington, DC Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | $540.63 | $800.41 | +48.0 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | $433.42 | $302.37 | -30.2 % |
Salaries And Financing | Arlington, VA Edit |
Washington, DC Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | $6,576.67 | $7,120.14 | +8.3 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.52 | 6.14 | -5.9 % |
| Last update: | 8 June 2026 | 10 June 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 32 | 82 | |
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 |