Washington DC Money Calculators
17 free calculators built on Washington DC's own tax, housing and insurance rules — each with the reasoning explained.
Washington DC at a glance
| State and local income tax | DC 4%–10.75% |
|---|---|
| Take-home on $100,000 (single, no deductions) | $73,649 |
| Property tax | DC taxes owner-occupied homes at $0.85 per $100 of assessed value after a homestead deduction, and limits yearly assessment increases for homesteads to 10%. |
| Government closing taxes on a $500,000 purchase (buyer + seller) | $14,500 |
| Transit | WMATA (Metro): about $115 a month |
| Auto insurance minimum | Liability 25/50/10 ($25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident bodily injury; $10,000 property damage) plus uninsured motorist 25/50/5. |
Income taxes in Washington DC
DC residents pay DC income tax on graduated brackets from 4% to 10.75%. Because the Home Rule Act bars DC from taxing nonresidents' income, workers who live in Maryland or Virginia pay income tax to their home state instead, and a large share of DC's workforce commutes in from those states.
DC's paid family leave program is funded entirely by employers, so there is no employee paid-leave deduction on a DC paycheck.
Housing: renting and buying
DC housing ranges from rowhouses in Capitol Hill, Petworth and Shaw to condos in Navy Yard and NoMa. Many workers compare DC against suburbs in Montgomery and Prince George's counties in Maryland and Arlington and Alexandria in Virginia.
DC taxes owner-occupied homes at $0.85 per $100 of assessed value after a homestead deduction, and limits yearly assessment increases for homesteads to 10%. That makes DC's effective residential rate lower than most of the other cities here.
Closing costs and transfer taxes
DC charges a recordation tax, customarily paid by the buyer, and a transfer tax, customarily paid by the seller — each 1.1% under $400,000 and 1.45% at $400,000 and above. Qualifying first-time homebuyers can use a reduced 0.725% recordation rate.
Getting around
WMATA's Metrorail and Metrobus serve DC and the suburbs, with rail fares based on distance and time of day. Many residents commute without a car; owning one means residential parking permits and garage costs in dense areas.
Insurance and everyday costs
DC requires 25/50/10 liability and 25/50/5 uninsured motorist coverage. Premiums are higher than in surrounding suburbs because of dense traffic and theft rates.
DC has high childcare costs for infants and toddlers, but it offers free universal pre-K for three- and four-year-olds, one of the most extensive programs in the country, and a child care subsidy program for eligible families.
DC's rent is high and taxes are mid-range, while universal pre-K and good transit lower some family and commuting costs.
How to use the Washington DC calculators
Every tool below uses Washington DC's own rules — the DC tax engine for paychecks, the DC Office of Tax and Revenue — Real Property's method for property tax, and local transfer taxes for closing costs. Start with the paycheck calculator to see real take-home pay, then use the housing tools to test rents or home prices against it. Each result comes with a Reasoning box that explains which rule mattered most.
Income & Taxes
Housing & Real Estate
Insurance & Everyday Costs
DC Special Tools
Frequently asked questions
Does Washington DC have a city income tax?
No. Washington DC does not levy a personal income tax; see the paycheck calculator for state taxes.
How much is take-home pay on $100,000 in Washington DC?
About $73,649 a year for a single filer with no pre-tax deductions, based on 2026 rules.
Where do the Washington DC numbers come from?
Tax rates and rules come from official sources such as the IRS, the DC Office of Tax and Revenue and the DC Office of Tax and Revenue — Real Property. Cost estimates such as typical rent are Rate and Reason starting points that you can replace with your own numbers.