How much does it cost to build a house in District of Columbia?

Building a house in District of Columbia, District of Columbia costs approximately $277 per square foot in 2026 for mid-range construction. A 2,000 sq ft home runs about $554,000.

Is District of Columbia more or less expensive to build in than the rest of District of Columbia?

District of Columbia is 0% more expensive than the District of Columbia state average. The state average is $277/sq ft while District of Columbia runs $277/sq ft.

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District of Columbia Home Building Costs

Building a house in District of Columbia, District of Columbia costs about $277/sq ft in 2026 — roughly $554,000 for a 2,000 sq ft mid-range home (construction only, land excluded). Population: 689,000.

County $/sq ft

$277

District of Columbia avg: $277

vs State Average

+0%

Local market premium

2,000 sq ft home

$554,000

Mid-range estimate

Local Market Factors

›Federal city
›Historic preservation requirements widespread
›High permit complexity

Cost by Home Size in District of Columbia

Home Size	Basic	Mid-Range	Premium
500 sq ft	$102,402	$138,500	$188,596
1,000 sq ft	$204,803	$277,000	$377,191
1,500 sq ft	$307,205	$415,500	$565,787
2,000 sq ft	$409,606	$554,000	$754,383
2,500 sq ft	$512,008	$692,500	$942,979
3,000 sq ft	$614,410	$831,000	$1,131,574
4,000 sq ft	$819,213	$1,108,000	$1,508,766
5,000 sq ft	$1,024,016	$1,385,000	$1,885,957

Costs are estimates only and represent construction costs, excluding land, architect fees, permits, and landscaping. Add 30–40% to these figures for total project cost.

County multiplier of 1.00× applied to District of Columbia state average (which itself is 1.55× the national average of $179/sq ft).

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Cost data: HouseBuildCalc Permit Cost Index (876,000+ building permits, 1,700+ ZIP codes), U.S. Census Bureau Survey of Construction, BLS Producer Price Index, NAHB Cost of Constructing a Home (published summaries). County-level multipliers are estimates derived from regional market data. For planning purposes only.