Cost of living: Valencia vs. Washington, D.C.
Thinking of moving to the US? Compare the cost of living in any city with your hometown.
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At a glance
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Life in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. is shaped by the federal government, which dominates local employment, and by an international presence that includes 177 embassies, the World Bank, and the Organization of American States. The city sits on the Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia, linked by a regional Metro system. Salvadorans are the largest Hispanic group, with long roots in Mount Pleasant and Columbia Heights.
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World-class museums, and most of them are free.
Monthly breakdown
What everyday life costs in each city, side by side.
| Total |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | $170 | $1,792 |
| Healthcare | $28 | $361 |
| Groceries | $140 | $463 |
| Utilities | $38 | $300 |
| Transit | $28 | $72 |
| Other | $94 | $516 |
Estimated monthly costs for one adult: typical rent across the metro area, USDA's moderate-cost food plan and U.S. government spending data — a typical budget, not a minimum.
Sources, updated September 2026: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (Regional Price Parities, 2024); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure Surveys, 2024; Consumer Price Index); U.S. Department of Agriculture (Food Plans, July 2026); Federal Communications Commission (Urban Rate Survey, 2026); U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (Fair Market Rents, FY2026); U.S. Energy Information Administration (weekly retail gasoline prices); official fare pages of each city's transit agency; Latin America: crowdsourced cost-of-living platforms, used for reference.
Cost of living by US city
15 cities, ranked by monthly cost for one person
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Frequently asked questions
Is Washington, D.C. more expensive than Valencia?
For one adult, Washington, D.C. is 7× more expensive than Valencia: about $3,504 a month, compared with about $498 in Valencia.
What is the monthly cost difference between Valencia and Washington, D.C.?
About $3,006 a month for one adult: $3,504 in Washington, D.C. versus $498 in Valencia. Change the number of adults above to see your household's figures.
Which costs change the most between Valencia and Washington, D.C.?
Healthcare shows the biggest jump: it costs 12.9× as much in Washington, D.C. as in Valencia.
How does rent compare between Valencia and Washington, D.C.?
A one-bedroom apartment rents for about $1,792 a month in Washington, D.C. and about $170 in Valencia. Rents exclude utilities.
Can a minimum-wage job cover the costs in Washington, D.C.?
A full-time minimum-wage job in Washington, D.C. ($18.40 an hour) pays about $3,189 a month before taxes. Typical costs for one adult there are about $3,504 a month. Add your income above to see what would be left each month.
How is the cost of living measured?
We add up typical monthly costs for one adult in six categories: housing, healthcare, groceries, utilities, transit and other everyday spending. U.S. figures are calculated from government data (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis, HUD and the Energy Information Administration) plus transit agencies' published fares. Latin American figures come from crowdsourced cost-of-living platforms, and their healthcare costs are a modeled estimate. Minimum wages are each city's local rate where it has one, otherwise the state rate published by the U.S. Department of Labor. Both cities' figures were last updated in 2026.
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