Skip to content
AffordMap

Can You Afford a 2-Bedroom in District of Columbia? The Salary Math.

We use a 2-bedroom HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,146/month as a proxy for the 2-bedroom in District of Columbia. To keep rent under 30% of take-home, you need at least $9,799/year before taxes.District of Columbia is a statewide aggregate. Showing the state-level 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $2,146/month as a proxy for the 2-bedroom.

District of Columbia is a statewide aggregate. Showing the state-level 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $2,146/month as a proxy for the 2-bedroom.

Salary thresholds at the HUD FMR of $2,146/month

Rent burden based on estimated take-home after federal, state, and FICA taxes (single filer). Verdict uses 30% rule.

PercentileAnnual salaryMonthly take-homeRent burdenVerdict
Entry-level (10th pct.)$38,730$2,62881.7%Too much
Early career (25th pct.)$43,880$2,94572.9%Too much
Median$43,880$2,94572.9%Too much
Experienced (75th pct.)$43,880$2,94572.9%Too much
Top earners (90th pct.)$44,060$2,95672.6%Too much

Verdict guide: Comfortable <25% | OK 25-30% | Stretch 30-40% | Too much >40%

Jobs that pay enough to afford a 2-Bedroom in District of Columbia

These occupations have median salaries that keep rent under 30% of take-home.

Podiatrists
$265,740/yr median
Materials Scientists
$137,600/yr median

Keep exploring District of Columbia

Top paying jobs in District of ColumbiaCost of living in District of ColumbiaCan you afford a 1-bedroom?Can you afford a 3-bedroom?

Frequently asked questions

What salary do you need to afford a 2-bedroom in District of Columbia?
You need roughly $9,799/year gross to keep a 2-bedroom at $2,146/month under the 30% rent burden threshold. That assumes a 27% effective tax rate and single filing.
How much is the HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in District of Columbia?
HUD publishes Fair Market Rents at the metro level, not for District of Columbia as a whole. We use the statewide 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $2,146/month as a proxy.
Is District of Columbia expensive for renters?
Yes. District of Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88, meaning everyday expenses run 9% above the national average. Rent at the HUD FMR takes up a larger share of take-home pay here than in most cities.
What percentage of income should go to rent?
The standard guideline is 30% of your gross monthly income before taxes. Go above that and you risk being "rent-burdened," which the Census Bureau defines as spending more than 30% of income on housing costs. Budget carefully if your rent burden sits above 40%.
Which jobs pay enough to afford rent in District of Columbia?
The following occupations in District of Columbia have median salaries that keep 2-bedroom rent under 30% of take-home pay: Podiatrists, Materials Scientists.

Source data is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and other federal agencies. AffordMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. Per BLS policy, "BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov."

Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you click through and take action, AffordMap may receive compensation at no cost to you. This never influences the salary data, cost-of-living figures, or calculations shown, all data comes from U.S. government sources. See our full disclosure.