Rent by ZIP code in Washington
| ZIP code | County | Typical rent | vs city median |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20526 | District of Columbia | $3,725 | +52% |
| 20016 | District of Columbia | $2,843 | +16% |
| 20037 | District of Columbia | $2,843 | +16% |
| 20005 | District of Columbia | $2,766 | +13% |
| 20004 | District of Columbia | $2,764 | +13% |
| 20009 | District of Columbia | $2,758 | +13% |
| 20001 | District of Columbia | $2,659 | +9% |
| 20036 | District of Columbia | $2,644 | +8% |
| 20007 | District of Columbia | $2,553 | +4% |
| 20003 | District of Columbia | $2,549 | +4% |
| 20010 | District of Columbia | $2,512 | +3% |
| 20002 | District of Columbia | $2,446 | 0% |
| 20017 | District of Columbia | $2,405 | -2% |
| 20024 | District of Columbia | $2,372 | -3% |
| 20015 | District of Columbia | $2,371 | -3% |
| 20012 | District of Columbia | $2,366 | -3% |
| 20011 | District of Columbia | $2,302 | -6% |
| 20008 | District of Columbia | $2,240 | -8% |
| 20020 | District of Columbia | $2,104 | -14% |
| 20018 | District of Columbia | $2,057 | -16% |
| 20019 | District of Columbia | $2,050 | -16% |
| 20006 | District of Columbia | $1,990 | -19% |
| 20032 | District of Columbia | $1,551 | -37% |
Rent by bedroom count in Washington
Zillow's index above blends every unit size into one number. For a bedroom level view, these are HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for District of Columbia. They include utilities and sit near the 40th percentile of the market, so treat them as the low side of what a typical unit lists for. District of Columbia uses Small Area FMRs, and the two bedroom figure runs from $1,640 to $3,660 depending on the Washington ZIP code.
| Unit size | FY2027 Fair Market Rent | Change from FY2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,111 | +8.1% |
| 1 bedroom | $2,204 | +9.4% |
| 2 bedroom | $2,438 | +8.5% |
| 3 bedroom | $3,107 | +9.6% |
| 4 bedroom | $3,658 | +9.8% |
Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Updates when HUD publishes a new fiscal year.
Is rent going up or down in Washington?
Typical rent across District of Columbia is $2,517 as of August 2026. That is about level with a year earlier and up 14.3% over five years.
| Year | Typical rent, District of Columbia | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $2,284 | +9.5% |
| 2022 | $2,363 | +3.4% |
| 2023 | $2,425 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | $2,510 | +3.5% |
| 2025 | $2,490 | -0.8% |
| 2026 (through August) | $2,517 | +1.1% |
Zillow Observed Rent Index for the county, all home types, last published month of each year. Each row is compared with the end of the year before it.
Washington rent questions
- What is the average rent in Washington, DC?
- Typical asking rent in Washington is $2,446 a month as of July 2026, across 23 ZIP codes. By ZIP code it runs from $1,551 to $3,725.
- How much is rent for a 2 bedroom in Washington?
- HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two bedroom in District of Columbia is $2,438 a month including utilities. A one bedroom is $2,204 and a three bedroom is $3,107. Fair Market Rent is set near the 40th percentile, so a typical unit lists somewhat higher.
- Is rent going up or down in Washington?
- Rent is flat. Typical rent in District of Columbia is $2,517 as of August 2026, within half a percent of a year earlier.
- What is the cheapest ZIP code to rent in Washington?
- ZIP 20032 has the lowest typical asking rent in Washington at $1,551 a month, compared with $2,446 for the city overall.
- How much income do you need to rent in Washington?
- Most landlords look for gross income of about three times the rent. At the typical Washington rent of $2,446, that is about $7,338 a month, or $88,056 a year. This is a common screening rule of thumb, and individual landlords set their own.
How to use these numbers
These are Zillow Observed Rent Index values, a smoothed measure of typical asking rent for single family homes, condos, and apartments in each ZIP code. They describe what units are listed for, not what any specific unit will get. Condition, bedroom count, and the exact block all move the number.
If you are underwriting a purchase, use the ZIP figure rather than the city median, and then verify against live listings for the same bedroom count before you commit. Washington sits in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area.