Richmond, VA vs Washington, DC: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Washington, DC is 11.3% more expensive than Richmond, VA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Richmond works out to about $83,500 in Washington, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 52.5% more in Washington. Goods are 8.3% higher and other services 3.8% higher.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 19.6% higher in Washington.
- Typical asking rent is $2,407 a month in Washington and $1,706 in Richmond, $8,412 a year more in Washington (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $570,000 in Washington and $392,000 in Richmond.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Washington was 15.3% more expensive than Richmond.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 52.5% higher in Washington than in Richmond
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Richmond, VA
- Washington, DC
All items Richmond, VA: 97.9 Washington, DC: 108.9
Goods Richmond, VA: 96.8 Washington, DC: 104.8
Housing (rents) Richmond, VA: 99.1 Washington, DC: 151.1
Utilities Richmond, VA: 89.2 Washington, DC: 106.7
Other services Richmond, VA: 98.6 Washington, DC: 102.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Richmond, VA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.9 | 108.9 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 104.8 |
| Housing (rents) | 99.1 | 151.1 |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 102.3 |
| Category | Richmond | Washington | Washington vs Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.9 | 108.9 | +11.3% |
| Goods | 96.8 | 104.8 | +8.3% |
| Housing (rents) | 99.1 | 151.1 | +52.5% |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 106.7 | +19.6% |
| Other services | 98.6 | 102.3 | +3.8% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,706 | $2,407 | +41.1% |
| Typical home value | $392,000 | $570,000 | +45.3% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Richmond | $75,000 | $83,500 | +11.3% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Richmond and Washington has narrowed since 2008: 16.7 points then, 11.0 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Richmond, VA
- Washington, DC
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Richmond, VA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.1 | 114.8 |
| 2009 | 97.5 | 115.0 |
| 2010 | 98.6 | 114.6 |
| 2011 | 99.4 | 113.5 |
| 2012 | 98.6 | 111.7 |
| 2013 | 98.3 | 113.9 |
| 2014 | 98.5 | 113.7 |
| 2015 | 98.9 | 113.7 |
| 2016 | 99.3 | 112.1 |
| 2017 | 97.8 | 109.8 |
| 2018 | 97.1 | 111.2 |
| 2019 | 95.2 | 109.8 |
| 2020 | 95.9 | 111.4 |
| 2021 | 98.0 | 111.6 |
| 2022 | 97.6 | 111.2 |
| 2023 | 98.3 | 109.5 |
| 2024 | 97.9 | 108.9 |
Goods
- Richmond, VA
- Washington, DC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Richmond, VA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.5 | 111.6 |
| 2009 | 95.6 | 112.6 |
| 2010 | 96.7 | 108.5 |
| 2011 | 96.7 | 106.5 |
| 2012 | 96.8 | 104.9 |
| 2013 | 96.7 | 108.9 |
| 2014 | 96.8 | 104.0 |
| 2015 | 96.0 | 104.0 |
| 2016 | 96.7 | 104.2 |
| 2017 | 96.5 | 103.1 |
| 2018 | 95.6 | 105.2 |
| 2019 | 95.1 | 104.1 |
| 2020 | 95.2 | 104.8 |
| 2021 | 96.1 | 108.5 |
| 2022 | 95.5 | 106.9 |
| 2023 | 97.1 | 106.4 |
| 2024 | 96.8 | 104.8 |
Housing (rents)
- Richmond, VA
- Washington, DC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Richmond, VA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.3 | 168.2 |
| 2009 | 103.2 | 168.9 |
| 2010 | 101.4 | 171.2 |
| 2011 | 103.5 | 173.2 |
| 2012 | 99.5 | 172.3 |
| 2013 | 99.4 | 176.2 |
| 2014 | 100.3 | 175.2 |
| 2015 | 100.9 | 171.4 |
| 2016 | 98.8 | 170.9 |
| 2017 | 95.8 | 166.2 |
| 2018 | 99.4 | 169.0 |
| 2019 | 95.4 | 162.9 |
| 2020 | 100.8 | 165.1 |
| 2021 | 99.5 | 162.5 |
| 2022 | 98.1 | 157.1 |
| 2023 | 101.0 | 151.9 |
| 2024 | 99.1 | 151.1 |
Utilities
- Richmond, VA
- Washington, DC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Richmond, VA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 87.4 | 116.4 |
| 2009 | 90.5 | 120.6 |
| 2010 | 91.6 | 107.3 |
| 2011 | 90.8 | 105.8 |
| 2012 | 91.6 | 107.9 |
| 2013 | 89.5 | 107.4 |
| 2014 | 90.8 | 104.2 |
| 2015 | 91.3 | 108.0 |
| 2016 | 89.0 | 112.4 |
| 2017 | 86.0 | 108.1 |
| 2018 | 89.4 | 103.7 |
| 2019 | 92.1 | 102.8 |
| 2020 | 90.5 | 104.7 |
| 2021 | 87.1 | 108.3 |
| 2022 | 89.3 | 101.7 |
| 2023 | 88.8 | 105.7 |
| 2024 | 89.2 | 106.7 |
Other services
- Richmond, VA
- Washington, DC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Richmond, VA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.6 | 105.5 |
| 2009 | 97.4 | 104.7 |
| 2010 | 99.4 | 106.8 |
| 2011 | 100.6 | 106.1 |
| 2012 | 100.1 | 104.1 |
| 2013 | 99.7 | 104.7 |
| 2014 | 99.7 | 107.8 |
| 2015 | 100.7 | 108.3 |
| 2016 | 102.0 | 105.3 |
| 2017 | 100.2 | 102.9 |
| 2018 | 98.0 | 103.9 |
| 2019 | 95.4 | 102.6 |
| 2020 | 95.1 | 103.9 |
| 2021 | 99.6 | 102.6 |
| 2022 | 99.6 | 104.4 |
| 2023 | 98.9 | 102.4 |
| 2024 | 98.6 | 102.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,407 in Washington vs $1,706 in Richmond
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Richmond, VA
- Washington, DC
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Richmond, VA | Washington, DC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $974 | $1,697 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $983 | $1,721 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $995 | $1,722 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $989 | $1,712 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $998 | $1,729 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,018 | $1,750 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,018 | $1,752 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,016 | $1,739 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,034 | $1,769 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,060 | $1,795 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,066 | $1,794 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,066 | $1,783 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,088 | $1,805 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,114 | $1,835 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,106 | $1,840 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,114 | $1,843 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,138 | $1,865 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,161 | $1,895 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,157 | $1,901 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,158 | $1,891 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,179 | $1,918 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,198 | $1,912 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,214 | $1,895 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,221 | $1,847 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,251 | $1,871 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,314 | $1,949 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,357 | $2,033 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,383 | $2,043 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,417 | $2,075 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,478 | $2,149 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,508 | $2,184 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,487 | $2,138 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,501 | $2,176 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,526 | $2,221 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,533 | $2,249 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,522 | $2,229 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,557 | $2,265 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,596 | $2,325 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,609 | $2,346 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,609 | $2,321 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,628 | $2,365 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,656 | $2,389 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,665 | $2,375 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,656 | $2,336 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,686 | $2,364 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,711 | $2,391 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,706 | $2,407 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $570,000 in Washington vs $392,000 in Richmond
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Richmond, VA
- Washington, DC
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Richmond, VA | Washington, DC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $201K | $372K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $203K | $373K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $206K | $375K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $209K | $379K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $212K | $382K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $214K | $382K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $217K | $383K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $220K | $388K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $224K | $393K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $226K | $396K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $229K | $397K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $232K | $402K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $235K | $407K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $238K | $409K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $241K | $413K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $243K | $415K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $247K | $420K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $250K | $424K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $252K | $425K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $256K | $430K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $260K | $438K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $262K | $442K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $268K | $448K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $279K | $465K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $291K | $481K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $303K | $500K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $309K | $505K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $313K | $507K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $327K | $525K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $341K | $543K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $347K | $535K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $348K | $530K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $349K | $529K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $357K | $537K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $362K | $545K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $364K | $547K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $368K | $552K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $375K | $561K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $377K | $564K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $380K | $570K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $381K | $573K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $381K | $570K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $382K | $569K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $386K | $571K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $389K | $571K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $390K | $568K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $392K | $570K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Richmond, VA
- Cost of living in Washington, DC
- Reverse: moving from Washington to Richmond
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.