States › Missouri › Washington

Is Washington, MO expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 18 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,25528% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$85,388about $7,116/month · 2% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$231,80030% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 72% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $50,200 a year. That is $24 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Missouri cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Missouri. It is number 66 of 142 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Washington
$1,255
Lebanon
$867
Fort Leonard Wood
$1,518
Carthage
$1,065
Jackson
$1,326
Overland
$1,802
Lemay
$1,485

How much do households earn in Washington?

Under $25k
15.3%
$25k–50k
21.4%
$50k–100k
32.5%
$100k–150k
17.4%
$150k+
9.2%

Share of households by yearly income. 26.6% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Washington

SizeWashingtonU.S. average
Studio$685$1,338
1 bedroom$681$1,324
2 bedrooms$998$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,189$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Washington overall?

Everyday prices in Missouri overall are 9% below the U.S. average (index 90.8, U.S. = 100).

Housing
70
Goods (food, clothes…)
96
Utilities
79
Other services
95
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Washington, so the Missouri figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Washington

🏛️ Property tax$1,717a year · 0.74% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$162a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Washington

Commute to work21.1 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree32.3%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home74%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line7.9%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment3.8%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Washington?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $353 a month less.

Renting
$1,255
Owning
$1,608

Owning assumes a typical $231,800 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $23,180 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Washington, MO?

Renting in Washington costs a median of about $1,255 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Missouri median is $1,285.

How much do I need to make to live in Washington?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $50,200 a year, or $24 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Washington cheap or expensive?

Washington is rated Cheap: rent takes 17.6% of the typical household income of $85,388. It ranks 66th cheapest of 142 Missouri cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Washington?

The median homeowner in Washington pays $1,717 a year in property taxes, about 0.74% of the median home value.

Is Washington more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Missouri are 9% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Washington?

The median home value in Washington is $231,800, about 2.7 times the typical yearly household income.

15,130 people live in Washington. Numbers are typical (middle) values.