Cost of living in the Washington Metro Area
23 counties across DC, VA, MD and WV. Population: 6,263,796.
Last updated May 22, 2026
Rent in the Washington Metro Area
Average rent across the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area, weighted by county population.
Source: HUD FMR + ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Income and earnings in the Washington Metro Area
Earnings data averaged across all 23 counties.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Home values in the Washington Metro Area
Average home values and annual property tax across the metro.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Energy costs in the Washington Metro Area
Residential electricity and natural gas estimates.
Source: EIA (state averages applied per county, weighted)
All 23 counties in the Washington Metro Area
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area includes 23 counties across DC, VA, MD and WV. Sorted by population.
- Fairfax VA$4,808/moPop1,144,474 Rent$2,056/mo Income$150,113/yrFairfax VA 1,144,474 $2,056/mo $150,113/yr $4,808/mo
- Montgomery County MD$4,559/moPop1,057,586 Rent$2,056/mo Income$128,733/yrMontgomery County MD 1,057,586 $2,056/mo $128,733/yr $4,559/mo
- Bowie MD$4,290/moPop955,584 Rent$2,056/mo Income$100,708/yrBowie MD 955,584 $2,056/mo $100,708/yr $4,290/mo
- Washington DC$5,029/moPop672,079 Rent$2,056/mo Income$106,287/yrWashington DC 672,079 $2,056/mo $106,287/yr $5,029/mo
- Manassas VA$4,425/moPop484,625 Rent$2,056/mo Income$128,873/yrManassas VA 484,625 $2,056/mo $128,873/yr $4,425/mo
- Loudoun County VA$5,132/moPop427,082 Rent$2,056/mo Income$178,707/yrLoudoun County VA 427,082 $2,056/mo $178,707/yr $5,132/mo
- Frederick County MD$4,502/moPop280,341 Rent$2,056/mo Income$120,458/yrFrederick County MD 280,341 $2,056/mo $120,458/yr $4,502/mo
- Arlington County VA$5,202/moPop235,463 Rent$2,056/mo Income$140,160/yrArlington County VA 235,463 $2,056/mo $140,160/yr $5,202/mo
- Charles County MD$4,603/moPop168,710 Rent$2,056/mo Income$120,592/yrCharles County MD 168,710 $2,056/mo $120,592/yr $4,603/mo
- Stafford County VA$4,481/moPop160,520 Rent$2,056/mo Income$133,792/yrStafford County VA 160,520 $2,056/mo $133,792/yr $4,481/mo
- Alexandria city VA$4,858/moPop156,788 Rent$2,056/mo Income$113,638/yrAlexandria city VA 156,788 $2,056/mo $113,638/yr $4,858/mo
- Spotsylvania County VA$4,361/moPop143,876 Rent$2,056/mo Income$109,576/yrSpotsylvania County VA 143,876 $2,056/mo $109,576/yr $4,361/mo
- Fauquier County VA$4,464/moPop73,935 Rent$2,056/mo Income$129,495/yrFauquier County VA 73,935 $2,056/mo $129,495/yr $4,464/mo
- Jefferson County WV$3,081/moPop58,546 Rent$950/mo Income$95,523/yrJefferson County WV 58,546 $950/mo $95,523/yr $3,081/mo
- Culpeper County VA$3,357/moPop53,563 Rent$1,148/mo Income$96,098/yrCulpeper County VA 53,563 $1,148/mo $96,098/yr $3,357/mo
- Manassas city VA$4,345/moPop42,674 Rent$2,056/mo Income$117,919/yrManassas city VA 42,674 $2,056/mo $117,919/yr $4,345/mo
- Warren County VA$3,160/moPop41,104 Rent$989/mo Income$84,331/yrWarren County VA 41,104 $989/mo $84,331/yr $3,160/mo
- Fredericksburg city VA$4,203/moPop28,383 Rent$2,056/mo Income$85,368/yrFredericksburg city VA 28,383 $2,056/mo $85,368/yr $4,203/mo
- Fairfax city VA$4,533/moPop24,478 Rent$2,056/mo Income$132,774/yrFairfax city VA 24,478 $2,056/mo $132,774/yr $4,533/mo
- Manassas Park city VA$4,348/moPop16,923 Rent$2,056/mo Income$100,668/yrManassas Park city VA 16,923 $2,056/mo $100,668/yr $4,348/mo
- Clarke County VA$4,418/moPop15,060 Rent$2,056/mo Income$114,185/yrClarke County VA 15,060 $2,056/mo $114,185/yr $4,418/mo
- Falls Church city VA$5,188/moPop14,593 Rent$2,056/mo Income$154,734/yrFalls Church city VA 14,593 $2,056/mo $154,734/yr $5,188/mo
- Rappahannock County VA$3,376/moPop7,409 Rent$1,229/mo Income$98,125/yrRappahannock County VA 7,409 $1,229/mo $98,125/yr $3,376/mo
Compare counties in the Washington Metro Area
Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up across the metro.
Open comparison toolFrequently asked questions about the Washington Metro Area
Common questions about cost of living in the metro area.
What is the cost of living in the Washington Metro Area?
The estimated average cost of living in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area is approximately $4,628 per month for a single person. This is a population-weighted average across the 23 counties that make up the metro area.
What is the average rent in the Washington Metro Area?
The average one-bedroom rent across the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area is $2,030 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data weighted by county population.
What is the cheapest county in the Washington Metro Area?
Jefferson County, WV is the most affordable county in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area at approximately $3,081 per month for a single person.
What is the most expensive county in the Washington Metro Area?
Arlington County, VA is the most expensive county in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area at approximately $5,202 per month for a single person.
How many counties are in the Washington Metro Area?
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area covers 23 counties across DC, VA, MD and WV. The five largest by population are Fairfax, Montgomery County, Bowie, Washington, Manassas.
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About this data
All figures come from official U.S. government sources. Metro-area averages are population-weighted across constituent counties using Census ACS population estimates.