The typical homeowner in the Washington, DC metro pays about $18,663 a year on maintenance, property taxes, and homeowners insurance, according to Zillow and Thumbtack’s October 2026 analysis. That is roughly $1,555 a month on top of the mortgage, and about $175 a month more than the U.S. figure of $16,566.
I’m not sharing this to talk anyone out of buying. A budget built on the mortgage payment alone leaves out costs you will pay every month after closing, and it’s much easier to plan for them before you make an offer.
Here’s what the report found, how DC Metro compares, and how to plan for it.
How much does it cost to own a home in DC Metro beyond the mortgage? According to Zillow and Thumbtack's October 2026 analysis, the typical homeowner in the Washington, DC metro pays about $18,663 a year, or roughly $1,555 a month, on maintenance, property taxes, and homeowners insurance. The U.S. figure is $16,566 a year. Costs in the DC metro rose 3.1% over the past year and 30.6% over five years.
What Homeowners Pay Beyond the Mortgage
Zillow and Thumbtack add up three costs every homeowner pays on top of the loan. For the typical U.S. homeowner, the $16,566 yearly total breaks down this way:
- Maintenance: $11,171 a year
- Property taxes: $3,129 a year (estimated)
- Homeowners insurance: $2,266 a year (estimated)
Maintenance is about two-thirds of the total, and it’s the largest of the three in every metro analyzed.
The pace is slowing. Total costs rose 3% over the past year, compared with 32% over five years. Yearly increases in maintenance costs have shrunk every year, from 9% in 2022 to 1% in 2026. Insurance premiums rose just 0.3% between February and June 2026.
Over five years, insurance still shows the biggest jump:
- Homeowners insurance: up 54%
- Maintenance: up 32%
- Property taxes: up 19%
Zillow senior economist Kara Ng says many households focus on winning the home and “underestimate what it costs to live in it.” Thumbtack’s Kendra Sinclair says regular upkeep through the year can help prevent bigger repair bills.
How DC Metro Compares
In the October 2026 table, the Washington, DC metro comes in at $18,663 a year. That is the 12th highest of the 30 metros analyzed and $2,097 a year above the national figure.
| Metro | Hidden costs per year | 1-year change | 5-year change |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $16,566 | 2.8% | 31.7% |
| Washington, DC | $18,663 | 3.1% | 30.6% |
| Baltimore, MD | $17,507 | 3.8% | 35.3% |
Source: Zillow and Thumbtack, October 2026.
Source: Zillow and Thumbtack, October 2026.
Where does the DC premium come from? This year’s release lists DC as a total only. Last year’s edition (November 2025) broke it out, and the gap came from property taxes, not upkeep or insurance:
- Property taxes: $5,302 in the DC metro, compared with $3,030 nationally
- Insurance: $1,708 in the DC metro, compared with $2,003 nationally
- Maintenance: $10,678 in the DC metro, compared with $10,946 nationally
Zillow calculates the maintenance index differently this year, so treat those 2025 figures as context, not as pieces of the 2026 total. Property tax rates and rules also differ across DC, Maryland, and Virginia, so the bill on a similar-priced home can differ meaningfully depending on where it sits.
Moving to DC Metro From Another Market?
If you’re relocating for work or coming in on orders, compare your current metro to this one. These are typical-homeowner estimates for each metro, not a specific house:
- From Phoenix ($14,187): about $4,476 more a year, roughly $373 a month
- From Charlotte ($15,364): about $3,299 more a year, roughly $275 a month
- From Nashville ($15,538): about $3,125 more a year, roughly $260 a month
When you have one chance to get the budget right before a start date or orders set the clock, build these costs in from the beginning.
How to Plan for These Costs Before You Buy
Should I Get an Insurance Quote Before I Make an Offer?
Yes. Premiums can vary significantly from one property to another, and with premiums up 54% over five years, the cost to insure a specific home can change what you can afford to pay for it.
How Do I Check Property Taxes Before I Buy?
Don’t assume the current owner’s tax bill will be yours after you buy. Ask your agent to pull the current assessment and the tax rate for that jurisdiction. Rates and rules differ across DC, Maryland, and Virginia, so this one deserves a look on every property.
How Much Should I Budget for Maintenance?
Nationally, Zillow and Thumbtack estimate $11,171 a year, about $930 a month. The type of home matters. A large single-family home with a big yard tends to cost more to maintain than a townhome or condo, and a newer home typically needs fewer repairs in the first few years than a 30-year-old one.
How Do I Set a Monthly Budget That Includes These Costs?
Set a target monthly payment that includes taxes, insurance, and maintenance, not just the loan. Our preferred lender, Will Mitchell at First Savings, can build the full number with you. You can also run payments in our mortgage calculator. If you’re weighing where rates could land before you close, see how much mortgage rates could move.
FAQ: The Cost of Owning a Home in DC Metro
How much does it cost to own a home in DC Metro beyond the mortgage?
About $18,663 a year, or roughly $1,555 a month, for the typical homeowner in the Washington, DC metro, according to Zillow and Thumbtack’s October 2026 analysis. That covers maintenance, property taxes, and homeowners insurance.
What is the biggest hidden cost of homeownership?
Maintenance. It is about two-thirds of the national total and the largest of the three costs in every metro Zillow and Thumbtack analyzed.
Are homeownership costs still rising?
Yes, but more slowly. Total costs rose 3% nationally over the past year, compared with 32% over five years. Maintenance cost increases slowed from 9% in 2022 to 1% in 2026.
How does DC Metro compare to the rest of the country?
The DC metro’s $18,663 a year is 12th highest of the 30 metros analyzed and $2,097 above the U.S. figure of $16,566. Costs rose 3.1% in the DC metro over the past year.
What should I budget for when buying a home?
Build your target monthly payment around the loan, property taxes, homeowners insurance, and a maintenance allowance. Get an insurance quote and check the property taxes before you make an offer.
Planning to buy in DC, Maryland, or Virginia in the next six to twelve months? Edward Slavis has sold more than $400M in homes across the region. Let the data speak, then decide. Book a time and we’ll look at the data together: Book a time
Check out this article next
