Seattle, WA 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 2.0% less expensive than Seattle, WA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Seattle works out to about $73,500 in Washington, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is everyday costs rather than housing: goods are 0.8% higher and other services 4.2% lower in Washington, while housing is 0.1% lower.
- Typical asking rent is $2,407 a month in Washington and $2,250 in Seattle, $1,884 a year more in Washington (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $570,000 in Washington and $720,000 in Seattle.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (2.4%).
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.
Everyday costs, not housing, drive the gap between Seattle and Washington
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Seattle, WA
- Washington, DC
All items Seattle, WA: 111.1 Washington, DC: 108.9
Goods Seattle, WA: 104.0 Washington, DC: 104.8
Housing (rents) Seattle, WA: 151.3 Washington, DC: 151.1
Utilities Seattle, WA: 92.8 Washington, DC: 106.7
Other services Seattle, WA: 106.8 Washington, DC: 102.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Seattle, WA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 111.1 | 108.9 |
| Goods | 104.0 | 104.8 |
| Housing (rents) | 151.3 | 151.1 |
| Utilities | 92.8 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 106.8 | 102.3 |
| Category | Seattle | Washington | Washington vs Seattle |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 111.1 | 108.9 | −2.0% |
| Goods | 104.0 | 104.8 | +0.8% |
| Housing (rents) | 151.3 | 151.1 | −0.1% |
| Utilities | 92.8 | 106.7 | +15.0% |
| Other services | 106.8 | 102.3 | −4.2% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,250 | $2,407 | +7.0% |
| Typical home value | $720,000 | $570,000 | −20.9% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Seattle | $75,000 | $73,500 | −2.0% |
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 Seattle and Washington has narrowed since 2008: 5.7 points then, 2.2 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Seattle, WA
- Washington, DC
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Seattle, WA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 109.1 | 114.8 |
| 2009 | 108.5 | 115.0 |
| 2010 | 106.4 | 114.6 |
| 2011 | 106.1 | 113.5 |
| 2012 | 105.3 | 111.7 |
| 2013 | 105.2 | 113.9 |
| 2014 | 107.5 | 113.7 |
| 2015 | 107.9 | 113.7 |
| 2016 | 110.2 | 112.1 |
| 2017 | 112.1 | 109.8 |
| 2018 | 110.5 | 111.2 |
| 2019 | 112.5 | 109.8 |
| 2020 | 113.0 | 111.4 |
| 2021 | 114.5 | 111.6 |
| 2022 | 114.0 | 111.2 |
| 2023 | 112.7 | 109.5 |
| 2024 | 111.1 | 108.9 |
Goods
- Seattle, WA
- Washington, DC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Seattle, WA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 108.3 | 111.6 |
| 2009 | 106.6 | 112.6 |
| 2010 | 105.3 | 108.5 |
| 2011 | 106.1 | 106.5 |
| 2012 | 101.1 | 104.9 |
| 2013 | 102.8 | 108.9 |
| 2014 | 104.6 | 104.0 |
| 2015 | 105.8 | 104.0 |
| 2016 | 104.4 | 104.2 |
| 2017 | 108.4 | 103.1 |
| 2018 | 105.2 | 105.2 |
| 2019 | 107.5 | 104.1 |
| 2020 | 111.9 | 104.8 |
| 2021 | 115.5 | 108.5 |
| 2022 | 116.4 | 106.9 |
| 2023 | 108.1 | 106.4 |
| 2024 | 104.0 | 104.8 |
Housing (rents)
- Seattle, WA
- Washington, DC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Seattle, WA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 139.2 | 168.2 |
| 2009 | 137.6 | 168.9 |
| 2010 | 136.3 | 171.2 |
| 2011 | 136.6 | 173.2 |
| 2012 | 134.2 | 172.3 |
| 2013 | 135.1 | 176.2 |
| 2014 | 140.4 | 175.2 |
| 2015 | 144.0 | 171.4 |
| 2016 | 149.2 | 170.9 |
| 2017 | 156.7 | 166.2 |
| 2018 | 159.2 | 169.0 |
| 2019 | 161.6 | 162.9 |
| 2020 | 156.6 | 165.1 |
| 2021 | 153.0 | 162.5 |
| 2022 | 154.7 | 157.1 |
| 2023 | 151.6 | 151.9 |
| 2024 | 151.3 | 151.1 |
Utilities
- Seattle, WA
- Washington, DC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Seattle, WA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 85.1 | 116.4 |
| 2009 | 87.0 | 120.6 |
| 2010 | 87.4 | 107.3 |
| 2011 | 90.1 | 105.8 |
| 2012 | 93.9 | 107.9 |
| 2013 | 99.8 | 107.4 |
| 2014 | 97.1 | 104.2 |
| 2015 | 103.7 | 108.0 |
| 2016 | 99.4 | 112.4 |
| 2017 | 100.0 | 108.1 |
| 2018 | 102.8 | 103.7 |
| 2019 | 106.3 | 102.8 |
| 2020 | 105.6 | 104.7 |
| 2021 | 94.3 | 108.3 |
| 2022 | 87.0 | 101.7 |
| 2023 | 85.3 | 105.7 |
| 2024 | 92.8 | 106.7 |
Other services
- Seattle, WA
- Washington, DC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Seattle, WA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 103.6 | 105.5 |
| 2009 | 103.3 | 104.7 |
| 2010 | 100.7 | 106.8 |
| 2011 | 99.6 | 106.1 |
| 2012 | 101.7 | 104.1 |
| 2013 | 100.0 | 104.7 |
| 2014 | 102.2 | 107.8 |
| 2015 | 101.4 | 108.3 |
| 2016 | 105.2 | 105.3 |
| 2017 | 105.0 | 102.9 |
| 2018 | 103.4 | 103.9 |
| 2019 | 104.9 | 102.6 |
| 2020 | 103.1 | 103.9 |
| 2021 | 105.8 | 102.6 |
| 2022 | 104.9 | 104.4 |
| 2023 | 107.6 | 102.4 |
| 2024 | 106.8 | 102.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,407 in Washington vs $2,250 in Seattle
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Seattle, WA
- 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
| Seattle, WA | Washington, DC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,347 | $1,697 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,384 | $1,721 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,415 | $1,722 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,407 | $1,712 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,443 | $1,729 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,503 | $1,750 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,519 | $1,752 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,507 | $1,739 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,561 | $1,769 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,618 | $1,795 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,632 | $1,794 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,604 | $1,783 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,633 | $1,805 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,681 | $1,835 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,681 | $1,840 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,664 | $1,843 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,696 | $1,865 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,742 | $1,895 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,753 | $1,901 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,743 | $1,891 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,785 | $1,918 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,775 | $1,912 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,761 | $1,895 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,684 | $1,847 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,722 | $1,871 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,830 | $1,949 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,936 | $2,033 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,933 | $2,043 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,979 | $2,075 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $2,065 | $2,149 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $2,089 | $2,184 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $2,020 | $2,138 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $2,046 | $2,176 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $2,084 | $2,221 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $2,098 | $2,249 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $2,061 | $2,229 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $2,101 | $2,265 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $2,153 | $2,325 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $2,159 | $2,346 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $2,128 | $2,321 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $2,165 | $2,365 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $2,209 | $2,389 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $2,210 | $2,375 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,183 | $2,336 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $2,198 | $2,364 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,238 | $2,391 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,250 | $2,407 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $570,000 in Washington vs $720,000 in Seattle
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Seattle, WA
- 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
| Seattle, WA | Washington, DC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $336K | $372K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $344K | $373K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $352K | $375K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $365K | $379K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $379K | $382K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $389K | $382K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $396K | $383K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $407K | $388K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $423K | $393K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $438K | $396K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $449K | $397K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $460K | $402K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $479K | $407K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $495K | $409K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $501K | $413K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $498K | $415K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $498K | $420K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $501K | $424K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $501K | $425K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $508K | $430K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $521K | $438K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $532K | $442K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $542K | $448K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $571K | $465K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $600K | $481K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $640K | $500K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $656K | $505K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $668K | $507K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $721K | $525K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $763K | $543K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $728K | $535K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $706K | $530K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $690K | $529K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $691K | $537K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $705K | $545K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $712K | $547K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $720K | $552K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $734K | $561K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $738K | $564K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $749K | $570K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $751K | $573K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $736K | $570K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $732K | $569K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $739K | $571K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $737K | $571K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $723K | $568K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $720K | $570K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Seattle, WA
- Cost of living in Washington, DC
- Reverse: moving from Washington to Seattle
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.