Washington, DC vs Detroit, MI: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Detroit, MI is 7.9% less expensive than Washington, DC (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Washington works out to about $69,100 in Detroit, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 37.3% less in Detroit. Goods are 5.8% lower and other services 0.3% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,514 a month in Detroit and $2,407 in Washington, $10,716 a year less in Detroit (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $264,000 in Detroit and $570,000 in Washington.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Detroit was 10.3% less expensive than Washington.
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: 37.3% lower in Detroit than in Washington
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Washington, DC
- Detroit, MI
All items Washington, DC: 108.9 Detroit, MI: 100.3
Goods Washington, DC: 104.8 Detroit, MI: 98.8
Housing (rents) Washington, DC: 151.1 Detroit, MI: 94.7
Utilities Washington, DC: 106.7 Detroit, MI: 107.0
Other services Washington, DC: 102.3 Detroit, MI: 102.6
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Washington, DC | Detroit, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 108.9 | 100.3 |
| Goods | 104.8 | 98.8 |
| Housing (rents) | 151.1 | 94.7 |
| Utilities | 106.7 | 107.0 |
| Other services | 102.3 | 102.6 |
| Category | Washington | Detroit | Detroit vs Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 108.9 | 100.3 | −7.9% |
| Goods | 104.8 | 98.8 | −5.8% |
| Housing (rents) | 151.1 | 94.7 | −37.3% |
| Utilities | 106.7 | 107.0 | +0.3% |
| Other services | 102.3 | 102.6 | +0.3% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,407 | $1,514 | −37.1% |
| Typical home value | $570,000 | $264,000 | −53.6% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Washington | $75,000 | $69,100 | −7.9% |
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 Washington and Detroit has narrowed since 2008: 14.2 points then, 8.6 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Washington, DC
- Detroit, MI
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Washington, DC | Detroit, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 114.8 | 100.6 |
| 2009 | 115.0 | 100.2 |
| 2010 | 114.6 | 99.4 |
| 2011 | 113.5 | 98.5 |
| 2012 | 111.7 | 97.9 |
| 2013 | 113.9 | 98.4 |
| 2014 | 113.7 | 98.7 |
| 2015 | 113.7 | 96.9 |
| 2016 | 112.1 | 96.3 |
| 2017 | 109.8 | 95.8 |
| 2018 | 111.2 | 97.3 |
| 2019 | 109.8 | 98.4 |
| 2020 | 111.4 | 98.3 |
| 2021 | 111.6 | 96.4 |
| 2022 | 111.2 | 96.3 |
| 2023 | 109.5 | 98.2 |
| 2024 | 108.9 | 100.3 |
Goods
- Washington, DC
- Detroit, MI
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Washington, DC | Detroit, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 111.6 | 99.9 |
| 2009 | 112.6 | 102.1 |
| 2010 | 108.5 | 100.4 |
| 2011 | 106.5 | 101.0 |
| 2012 | 104.9 | 99.5 |
| 2013 | 108.9 | 100.0 |
| 2014 | 104.0 | 99.5 |
| 2015 | 104.0 | 98.2 |
| 2016 | 104.2 | 99.1 |
| 2017 | 103.1 | 99.5 |
| 2018 | 105.2 | 100.1 |
| 2019 | 104.1 | 96.5 |
| 2020 | 104.8 | 98.7 |
| 2021 | 108.5 | 95.1 |
| 2022 | 106.9 | 94.7 |
| 2023 | 106.4 | 97.9 |
| 2024 | 104.8 | 98.8 |
Housing (rents)
- Washington, DC
- Detroit, MI
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Washington, DC | Detroit, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 168.2 | 103.4 |
| 2009 | 168.9 | 98.0 |
| 2010 | 171.2 | 100.3 |
| 2011 | 173.2 | 95.3 |
| 2012 | 172.3 | 96.4 |
| 2013 | 176.2 | 95.7 |
| 2014 | 175.2 | 95.7 |
| 2015 | 171.4 | 93.5 |
| 2016 | 170.9 | 94.0 |
| 2017 | 166.2 | 95.2 |
| 2018 | 169.0 | 94.4 |
| 2019 | 162.9 | 96.9 |
| 2020 | 165.1 | 95.7 |
| 2021 | 162.5 | 90.3 |
| 2022 | 157.1 | 94.2 |
| 2023 | 151.9 | 93.1 |
| 2024 | 151.1 | 94.7 |
Utilities
- Washington, DC
- Detroit, MI
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Washington, DC | Detroit, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 116.4 | 99.9 |
| 2009 | 120.6 | 107.7 |
| 2010 | 107.3 | 107.2 |
| 2011 | 105.8 | 108.2 |
| 2012 | 107.9 | 109.7 |
| 2013 | 107.4 | 109.6 |
| 2014 | 104.2 | 103.5 |
| 2015 | 108.0 | 103.9 |
| 2016 | 112.4 | 104.3 |
| 2017 | 108.1 | 105.7 |
| 2018 | 103.7 | 104.8 |
| 2019 | 102.8 | 100.7 |
| 2020 | 104.7 | 106.0 |
| 2021 | 108.3 | 102.1 |
| 2022 | 101.7 | 101.9 |
| 2023 | 105.7 | 106.8 |
| 2024 | 106.7 | 107.0 |
Other services
- Washington, DC
- Detroit, MI
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Washington, DC | Detroit, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 105.5 | 100.2 |
| 2009 | 104.7 | 99.2 |
| 2010 | 106.8 | 98.0 |
| 2011 | 106.1 | 97.4 |
| 2012 | 104.1 | 96.6 |
| 2013 | 104.7 | 97.5 |
| 2014 | 107.8 | 98.8 |
| 2015 | 108.3 | 96.6 |
| 2016 | 105.3 | 94.9 |
| 2017 | 102.9 | 93.4 |
| 2018 | 103.9 | 96.0 |
| 2019 | 102.6 | 100.0 |
| 2020 | 103.9 | 98.5 |
| 2021 | 102.6 | 98.9 |
| 2022 | 104.4 | 97.7 |
| 2023 | 102.4 | 99.5 |
| 2024 | 102.3 | 102.6 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,514 in Detroit vs $2,407 in Washington
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Washington, DC
- Detroit, MI
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Washington, DC | Detroit, MI | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,697 | $854 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,721 | $871 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,722 | $879 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,712 | $875 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,729 | $882 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,750 | $899 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,752 | $907 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,739 | $905 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,769 | $918 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,795 | $948 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,794 | $953 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,783 | $952 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,805 | $964 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,835 | $986 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,840 | $994 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,843 | $987 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,865 | $1,007 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,895 | $1,032 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,901 | $1,033 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,891 | $1,032 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,918 | $1,040 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,912 | $1,066 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,895 | $1,100 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,847 | $1,112 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,871 | $1,143 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,949 | $1,187 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $2,033 | $1,230 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $2,043 | $1,246 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $2,075 | $1,265 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $2,149 | $1,313 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $2,184 | $1,324 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $2,138 | $1,310 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $2,176 | $1,320 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $2,221 | $1,342 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $2,249 | $1,354 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $2,229 | $1,354 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $2,265 | $1,371 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $2,325 | $1,401 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $2,346 | $1,415 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $2,321 | $1,421 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $2,365 | $1,435 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $2,389 | $1,450 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $2,375 | $1,453 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,336 | $1,457 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $2,364 | $1,468 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,391 | $1,496 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,407 | $1,514 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $264,000 in Detroit vs $570,000 in Washington
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Washington, DC
- Detroit, MI
- 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
| Washington, DC | Detroit, MI | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $372K | $124K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $373K | $128K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $375K | $131K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $379K | $133K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $382K | $136K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $382K | $139K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $383K | $141K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $388K | $144K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $393K | $148K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $396K | $152K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $397K | $154K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $402K | $157K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $407K | $162K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $409K | $165K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $413K | $168K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $415K | $169K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $420K | $174K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $424K | $177K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $425K | $178K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $430K | $179K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $438K | $182K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $442K | $184K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $448K | $186K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $465K | $194K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $481K | $204K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $500K | $214K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $505K | $217K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $507K | $217K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $525K | $226K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $543K | $236K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $535K | $234K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $530K | $231K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $529K | $231K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $537K | $235K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $545K | $240K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $547K | $242K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $552K | $245K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $561K | $250K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $564K | $251K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $570K | $253K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $573K | $256K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $570K | $257K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $569K | $260K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $571K | $262K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $571K | $264K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $568K | $264K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $570K | $264K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Washington, DC
- Cost of living in Detroit, MI
- Reverse: moving from Detroit to Washington
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.