Rent vs Buy in Washington, DC

Washington, DC Assumptions

Home Purchase
Ongoing Costs
Rental
Growth
Tax
Projection

Buy Net Worth

Rent Net Worth

Break-Even

Verdict

Net Worth Over Time — Washington, DC

Year-by-Year Comparison

Year-by-year rent vs buy comparison for Washington, DC
Year Buy
Net Worth
Rent
Net Worth
Difference Monthly
Buy Cost
Monthly
Rent

Cities & Towns in Washington, DC

This calculator's defaults reflect the broader Washington, DC metropolitan area, including:

  • Washington (DC)
  • Arlington (VA)
  • Alexandria (VA)
  • Bethesda (MD)
  • Silver Spring (MD)
  • Rockville (MD)
  • Reston (VA)
  • Tysons (VA)
  • Falls Church (VA)
  • Gaithersburg (MD)
  • Fairfax (VA)
  • Herndon (VA)
  • McLean (VA)
  • Frederick (MD)

Region: South. Housing cost-of-living index: 216 (national avg = 100). Composite cost-of-living: 138.

About this Washington, DC estimate

The default home price and rent come from the Washington, DC metropolitan area's housing cost-of-living index applied to national 2025 medians ($420,000 home, $1,850/mo rent for a typical 2-3 BR). The property tax rate is the average effective rate for District of Columbia per the Tax Foundation. These are starting points — adjust to match your specific listing, neighborhood, and tax bill.