Planning
Money and costs in Washington DC
Washington's headline attractions are unusually cheap: the Smithsonian museums and the monuments are free. Lodging and dining are the real costs, sales and hotel taxes add up, and US tipping norms apply.
What is free, and what is not
The Smithsonian museums — including Air and Space, American History, Natural History, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture — charge no admission, and the National Mall monuments and memorials are free and open daily. That makes DC one of the best-value major cities for sightseeing.
The costs that add up are lodging, food, paid attractions outside the Smithsonian (some private museums charge admission), and Metro fares, which remain modest by big-city standards.
Taxes and paying
DC's general sales tax is 6 percent, with a higher rate on restaurant meals and prepared food and a separate, higher hotel occupancy tax, so the rate on your hotel bill is noticeably above the shelf-price sales tax.
Cards and contactless payments are accepted almost everywhere, including Metro faregates, so most visitors carry little cash.
Tipping
Tipping is customary and expected in the US: around 18 to 20 percent at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, and a few dollars for taxi and rideshare drivers, hotel housekeeping, and bellhops.
Counter-service spots usually have a tip option that is optional; the full-service restaurant tip is the one that genuinely matters to staff income.
Sources
Reviewed source trail
- Smithsonian — free admission and visit info — checked 2026-06-18
- DC Office of Tax and Revenue — sales tax rates — checked 2026-06-18
- National Park Service — National Mall (free monuments) — checked 2026-06-18