Travel Budget for Washington Visit Washington on a Budget or Travel in Style

Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America

How much does it cost to travel to Washington?

You should plan to spend around $198 per day on your vacation in Washington. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $38 on meals
  • $47 on local transportation
  • $226 on hotels

A one week trip to Washington for two people costs, on average, $2,776. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $198
  • One Week Per person
    $1,388
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $2,776
  • One Month Per person
    $5,949
  • One Week For a couple
    $2,776
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $5,552
  • One Month For a couple
    $11,898
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Washington cost?

A one week trip to Washington usually costs around $1,388 for one person and $2,776 for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Washington on average costs around $2,776 for one person and $5,552 for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Washington will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Washington on average costs around $5,949 for one person and $11,898 for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to Washington has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is Washington expensive to visit?

Prices in Washington are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.

Within North America, which is known to be an expensive region, Washington is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Bangor or Pensacola.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Washington Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Washington?

The average Washington trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Washington travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) $226
Local Transportation 1 $47
Food 2 $38
Entertainment 1 $24
Tips and Handouts 1 $10 - 31
Alcohol 2 $9 - 28
Accommodation Budget in Washington
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Washington is $113. For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Washington is $226. This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $113
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $226

Hotel Prices in Washington

Looking for a hotel in Washington? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

 

Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in Washington based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $185. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.


Recommended Properties


Transportation Budget in Washington
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Washington is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $47 per person, per day, on local transportation in Washington.


  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $47

Recommended Services


Flights to Washington
How much does it cost to go to Washington? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.

Rental Cars in Washington
The price of renting a car in Washington will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.


What did other people spend on Transportation in Washington?

Typical prices for Transportation in Washington are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Washington, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.


  • Metro Day Pass
    $9.00


Food Budget in Washington
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Washington can vary, the average cost of food in Washington is $38 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Washington should cost around $15 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Washington is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $38

Recommended

What did other people spend on Food in Washington?

Typical prices for Food in Washington are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Washington, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.


  • Water
    $2.00
  • Snacks on Monuments Tour
    $6.15


Entertainment Budget in Washington
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Washington typically cost an average of $24 per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.


  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $24

Recommended Activities


Tips and Handouts Budget in Washington
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average cost for Tips and Handouts in Washington is $20 per day. The usual amount for a tip in Washington is 10% - 20%.


  • Tips and Handouts1 For guides or service providers
    $20


Alcohol Budget in Washington
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $19 on alcoholic beverages in Washington per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $19

Recommended


Water Budget in Washington
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • On average, people spend $3.42 on bottled water in Washington per day. The public water in Washington is considered safe to drink.


  • Water2 Bottled water for one day
    $3.42


Last Updated: Oct 25, 2023
Washington On a Budget
Washington The Lincoln Memorial during the Cherry Blossom Festival - Washington, D.C.
Washington, DC is the capital city of the United States of America. It is also a city rich in history and culture. The city dates back to 1791 when the states of Maryland and Virginia donated the land to create the capital. In 1846, Congress returned the land that was ceded by Virginia and in 1871 it created a single municipal government with the remaining area. Today, Washington, DC has a population of over 600,000 people. The metropolitan area includes suburbs in Maryland and Virginia and has a population of about 5.8 million.

Washington DC is the center of all three branches of the federal government including Congress, the President, and the Supreme Court. As the political center of the country, there is no shortage of sights, landmarks and monuments. It is also one of the most diverse cities in the U.S. as it attracts immigrants and diplomats from all over the world. There are 176 foreign embassies located in the city along with the headquarters for many different international organizations, non-profits and professional groups.
Sights
As a tourist, you are likely to spend much of your time around the National Mall. This is the name given to the giant lawn that is surrounded by many monuments and museums. Here you will find the famous Smithsonian Museums as well as the Washington Monument, the reflecting pool and the Lincoln Memorial among many others. The Tidal Basin is one of our favorite spots, as it is home to a few memorials along with plenty of Cherry Blossom Trees, which makes D.C. a great place to visit in the Spring.

The capital city has no shortage of monuments and memorials, and they seem to add new ones every year. Some of the most famous landmarks are the FDR Memorial (best visited at night), the Vietnam War Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the National Gallery of Art, the Holocaust Museum, the White House, and the US Capital Building. Most of the sights and museums in Washington DC are free. This makes the city a surprisingly budget friendly destination.

While many of the sights you want to see are around the mall area, it's important you venture into some of the neighborhoods around Washington, DC. Each neighborhood has its own feel and character. Make sure you step off the beaten path to see Washington DC as a real city, not just a gathering of monuments.
Neighborhoods
Most tourists spend the majority of their time around the National Mall. You should really explore other neighborhoods though, as the city has a lot to offer. The downtown area is where you'll find the National Mall, the East End, West End, and Waterfront. The North Central area has Dupont Circle, Shaw, Adams Morgan, Columbia Heights, and LeDroit Park. The West has Georgetown and Upper Northwest. East has Capitol Hill, Brookland-Teworth-Takoma and Anacostia.

Activities
There is no shortage of activities and events in the city. There always seems to be a festival going on, particularly during the summer months. Parks worth exploring in the area include Rock Creek Park and Roosevelt Island. Interesting festivals include the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the National Kite Festival, and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

The Zoo is part of the Smithsonian, and entry is free (parking a car entails a fee, though). Located near Rock Creek Park and not far from a couple of metro stations, getting here is easy. Plenty of amazing exhibits are on display, including Pandas! For more details, check out fun facts about the Smithsonian National Zoo which includes more information about the Pandas, the location, and other animals.
Food and Dining
Washington DC's restaurants are heavily influenced by the international character of the city. There is no shortage of ethnic restaurants around town, most of which are excellent. Popular options include Ethiopian, Filipino and Vietnamese restaurants. Unfortunately, the most interesting restaurants are generally not located near the tourist attractions. The dining options around the National Mall are limited to food stands and museum cafeterias, most of which are way overpriced and low in quality. Plan your day so that you can venture further out to find a local eatery with unique food. Otherwise, you're sure to be disappointed with your dining options and miss a large part of what the city has to offer.

It is possible to find cheap meals in the city. Ethnic restaurants are some of the most affordable options. There are also high end, trendy restaurants where you may bump into lobbyists or politicians. The most expensive restaurants tend to be located in the West End, East End, Dupont Circle, and Georgetown.

Transportation
If you're planning to stay within the District, then walking is very easy. For longer distances, the metro system is excellent and efficient. Most of the city's attractions are concentrated near the National Mall. You can easily take the metro to this area and then walk between museums, monuments and memorials.

In general, Washington, DC has an excellent metro system which stretches into the nearby suburbs. Public transportation is the cheapest, and easiest way to make your way around the area. There are six color coded lines that run underground until you reach the suburbs. The system is very clean (no food allowed) and safe. There are also hundreds of bus routes around town. Buses provide access to most places the metro does not. The system is efficient and affordable.

There is also no shortage of taxis, but do keep in mind that if you cross from DC into Virginia or Maryland, you are likely to pay a lot more for the ride.

Driving in the city is not recommended. Parking is expensive and can be difficult to find. There are plenty of public transit options that make the city accessible to visitors without the hassle of having a car.
Related
Looking for a party hostel in Hawaii or Miami? Traveling alone to LA or New Orleans? Want a budget hostel in NYC?

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.