Rent Tracker
Rent Inflation in Washington, DC
The average asking rent in Washington, DC is $2,375/month as of 2026-04. That is -0.1% compared to a year ago.
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) | zillow.com/research
Current Avg Rent
$2,375/mo
as of 2026-04
Year-over-Year Change
-0.1%
24-Month Rent Trend
Monthly ZORI index values for Washington, DC.
| Month | Avg Asking Rent | Change from Prior Month |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-04 | $2,375 | +0.59% |
| 2026-03 | $2,361 | +0.60% |
| 2026-02 | $2,347 | +0.51% |
| 2026-01 | $2,335 | +0.04% |
| 2025-12 | $2,334 | -0.47% |
| 2025-11 | $2,345 | -0.72% |
| 2025-10 | $2,362 | -0.59% |
| 2025-09 | $2,376 | -0.42% |
| 2025-08 | $2,386 | -0.13% |
| 2025-07 | $2,389 | -0.04% |
| 2025-06 | $2,390 | +0.21% |
| 2025-05 | $2,385 | +0.34% |
| 2025-04 | $2,377 | +0.59% |
| 2025-03 | $2,363 | +0.90% |
| 2025-02 | $2,342 | +0.69% |
| 2025-01 | $2,326 | +0.35% |
| 2024-12 | $2,318 | -0.26% |
| 2024-11 | $2,324 | -0.43% |
| 2024-10 | $2,334 | -0.38% |
| 2024-09 | $2,343 | -0.09% |
| 2024-08 | $2,345 | +0.26% |
| 2024-07 | $2,339 | +0.69% |
| 2024-06 | $2,323 | +0.91% |
| 2024-05 | $2,302 | — |
Why Rent Inflation Matters
Shelter is the single largest component of the official CPI, accounting for roughly one-third of the index. But the BLS shelter index tends to lag real-market rent changes by 12–18 months because it measures rents paid by all tenants — including long-term renters locked into old leases. ZORI measures asking rents for new leases, making it a timelier signal of where CPI shelter inflation is headed.
When ZORI is rising sharply in your city, it is a leading indicator that official shelter inflation — and therefore overall CPI — will remain elevated in coming months.
Compare All Cities
Open Full Rent Tracker →Other Cities
Data Source
Rent data uses the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI), a smoothed measure of typical market-rate asking rents updated monthly by Zillow Research. ZORI covers single-family homes, condos, and co-ops and reflects asking rents for new leases — making it a more timely indicator than the lagged BLS shelter index. zillow.com/research | Money & Prices