Where does your life cost you the least?

What each state charges, and what it gives back, against the US average. Blue and a plus mean better for you; orange and a minus mean worse.

What matters to youEvery layer counts the same
Better for youCosts you more

#30 of 51

District of Columbia

−2.4net burden with your weights
Moneyindex 134.3
34% more expensive than the US average

What costs $100 nationally costs about $134 here.

MERIC, Q1 2026

Work hoursindex 87.5
12% less work than the US average35.0 hrs/wk

A 40-hour US-average week costs about 35.0 hours of work here, at an average wage of $57.39/hr.

MERIC, Q1 2026 + BLS CES, April 2026

Stressindex 85.3
15% less stress than the US average

13.3% of adults report frequent mental distress.

CDC BRFSS, 2024

Well-beingno data (WalletHub, 2025)
See District of Columbia's counties

Money, Work hours, Stress and Well-being, weighted evenly · How True cost is calculated