Budget · Washington, D.C. · United States
Washington, D.C. on a budget
What a trip to Washington, D.C. really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: ajay_suresh, CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
Washington, D.C. is expensive for most international visitors. Budget roughly $100–$160 per person per day on a tight budget, $250–$400 mid-range and $600–$1,400 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–February and August.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $100–$160 a day
- Mid-range
- $250–$400 a day
- Luxury
- $600–$1,400 a day
- Local currency
- USD
- Free sights
- 18
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $100–$160 | $300–$480 | $500–$800 | $700–$1,120 |
| Mid-range | $250–$400 | $750–$1,200 | $1,250–$2,000 | $1,750–$2,800 |
| Luxury | $600–$1,400 | $1,800–$4,200 | $3,000–$7,000 | $4,200–$9,800 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Washington, D.C., October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Metro ride | about $2–$7 depending on distance and time |
| Smithsonian museum entry | free |
| Half-smoke with chili | about $8–$12 |
| Pupusa | about $3–$5 each |
| Ethiopian dinner | about $20–$35 per person |
| Crab cake main course | about $30–$45 |
| Cocktail in a downtown bar | about $14–$18 |
| Mid-range hotel near the Mall | about $200–$350 per night |
Money-saving tips
- The Smithsonian museums, the National Gallery of Art, the National Zoo, the Capitol tour and the Library of Congress are all free.
- The monuments are open around the clock and free; visiting them after dark also avoids the summer heat.
- Hotels in Arlington and Crystal City across the river are on the Metro and often cost less than downtown.
- Downtown business hotels frequently drop prices at weekends and in August, when Congress is usually in recess.
- An unlimited Metro pass pays off if you plan several rides a day, especially to Arlington and Alexandria.
- Weekday happy hours in downtown bars are the most affordable way to try oysters and cocktails.
Free things to do
- National Mall — The Mall runs about 3 km from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, lined by the Smithsonian museums and the National Gallery, with the Washington Monument at its centre.
- Lincoln Memorial — Daniel Chester French's 5.8-metre seated Lincoln looks out from a Greek Doric temple completed in 1922, with the Gettysburg Address and second inaugural address carved on the walls.
- Washington Monument — The 169-metre marble obelisk, finished in 1884, was built in two phases, and a change in the stone's shade about a quarter of the way up shows where work stopped for more than 20 years.
- United States Capitol — The domed seat of Congress can be toured from the underground Capitol Visitor Center.
- National Air and Space Museum — The Smithsonian's flagship aviation museum on the Mall holds the Apollo 11 command module Columbia, Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St.
- National Museum of Natural History — Under the rotunda's African bush elephant, the Smithsonian's natural-history museum holds the 45-carat Hope Diamond, the David H.
Where to stay on a budget
$$ · Best for nightlife, budget, solo travellers and food lovers
U Street and Shaw
Historic 'Black Broadway', live-music venues and Ben's Chili Bowl
Eating well for less
- Half-smoke — Ben's Chili Bowl on U Street, open since 1958, plus carts and diners around the city.
- Mumbo sauce — Neighbourhood carry-outs and wing shops, especially in Northeast and Southeast DC; bottles are sold in some local shops.
- Pupusas — Salvadoran restaurants in Columbia Heights and Mount Pleasant; ask for revueltas (pork, beans and cheese) or queso con loroco.
- Jumbo slice — Pizza counters along 18th Street NW in Adams Morgan.
Getting around for less
Metro unlimited passes
1-day, 3-day and 7-day unlimited passes can be loaded onto a SmarTrip card or phone; they pay off if you ride several times a day.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Washington, D.C. cost?
About $1,250–$2,000 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $500–$800 on a tight budget.
+Is Washington, D.C. expensive?
It is expensive for international visitors. The Smithsonian museums, the National Gallery of Art, the National Zoo, the Capitol tour and the Library of Congress are all free.
+How much money do I need per day in Washington, D.C.?
Roughly $100–$160 on a budget and $250–$400 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Washington, D.C.?
Usually in January–February and August.