Affordability refers to whether humans can realistically pay for essential goods and services with the income they earn.
After the Employment Act of 1946, Congress formally recognized that the federal government has a responsibility for maintaining economic stability and living standards for anyone “able, willing, and seeking to work.” Back then the focus was establishing America’s purchasing power.
Since then, affordability has been a major concern for taxpayers across all socioeconomic statuses. More importantly, modern policy regarding affordability took shape through housing policy in 1974 and 1990. More recently, the 2008 financial crisis pushed members of Congress to see affordability from a broader perspective. Due to the significant impacts, we’re now seeing childcare costs, lowering prescription drugs, rising student debt, healthcare premiums, housing shortages, utility and energy subsidies, and stagnant wages consistently included in the conversation.
AFFORDABILITY IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS
Nationwide
Mortgage: Average mortgage rate was 7.04% in Jan. 2025 vs. 6.01% now (Feb. 2026).
Rent: Median rent declined by 1.5% each year since… making January 2026 the 29th consecutive month of annual rent declines. Median rent is $1,672.
Utilities: In 2025, utilities requested nearly $31 billion in rent increases. Low-income households spend about 17% of their income on utilities expenses.
Groceries: As of 2025, between July and August groceries rose by 0.6%; 29% higher than before the COVID pandemic. Over the last four years, groceries have increased by 25%. Factors such as tariffs and inflation.
District of Columbia
Mortgage: 5.3% increase
Rent: Average rent is higher than the national average; 37% higher. $2, 235 per month.
Utilities: 10% more than the national average. As of January 2026, Washington Gas customers are paying about 13% more on their bills.
Groceries: “Food prices advanced 1.7 percent for the two months ending in January. Prices for food at home advanced 2.4 percent with higher prices for nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials, up 12.4 percent for the same period.”
Affordability remains one of the most pressing economic issues facing households today:
Housing costs remain the single largest driver of affordability challenges nationwide and in D.C. While mortgage rates and rents show modest stabilization nationally, cumulative price increases since 2020 continue to strain household budgets.
Utility and grocery costs disproportionately affect low- and middle-income families. Groceries are 29% higher than before COVID and up 25% over four years. Even small monthly increases add up for working families.
In the District, above-average rent, utilities, and recent food price spikes intensify affordability pressures beyond national trends.
NOTE: The national landscape of health care pricing and cost of living affordability have a significant impact in individual states, especially with the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA.)
Here are some potential impacts of federal changes to health care pricing and general affordability in our priority states: Florida, Texas and North Carolina.
- The OBBBA threatens the health, safety and security of many of us, especially those living at the intersections in our LGBTQ+ community, immigrants, and those who have low incomes.
- No one should have to choose between affording basic health care to live and necessities like food, housing and electricity.
- The OBBBA has an even more devastating impact for low-income LGBTQ+ individuals, people of color and transgender folk because of the drastic cuts to programs needed specifically for health care and living assistance. This includes a direct threat to LGBTQ+ health centers which offer the community all forms of health care, STI testing and mental health services.
- According to the National Center for LGBTQ Rights, an estimated 1.8 million LGBTQ+ individuals including 1 in 4 transgender adults are on Medicaid and the program is vital for those living with HIV. LGBTQ+ adults also participate in SNAP and have higher rates of food insecurity than non-LGBTQ+ adults due in part to the fact that LGBTQ+ adults have lower wages and live in poverty at a disproportionately higher rate compared to non-LGBTQ+ adults.
- In general, those in the LGBTQ+ community face a housing crisis, higher insurance rates, and general lack of affordability for health care and basic needs.
Florida
Healthcare pricing and cost of living affordability concerns continue to rise in the state of Florida.
Household Items and SNAP:
The cost of eggs on average in 2026 is $6.36, with a 57% increase due to inflation. Florida typically has higher egg prices than the national average. Although reports show that the average price of eggs has decreased nationally, the price of eggs in each specific state is still very high and leaves many people unable to afford high prices.
The cost of milk as of mid-2025 is approximately $3.47, which is slightly higher than the national average. This cost varies by type of milk and region in Florida.
Additionally, 253,000 people, and 180,000 immigrants in Florida are at immediate risk of losing some of their SNAP benefits. This will make groceries and other household items virtually impossible to afford.
Healthcare:
Florida has the highest rate in the nation for people enrolled under the ACA’s health insurance marketplace at 4.6 million people.
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, insurance premiums will dramatically increase by 300-400% if premium tax credits are not extended, and the uninsured rate in Florida could increase from 10.7% to 16.7%.
An estimated 16,000 people living with HIV in Florida are at risk of losing access to HIV medication needed to survive based on the Florida Department of Health’s action to reduce the income eligible for assistance for the medication. This means people who make more than ~$20,500 a year, now $64,000 lower, cannot receive assistance for medication, which typically costs more than $5,000 a month.
Utilities and Rent:
Average monthly utilities in Florida typically cost between $400 and $560 per month for a standard household, covering electricity, water, gas, and internet.
Texas
Due to the OBBBA, there will be an increase in utilities to an average of $80 per year.
Healthcare pricing and cost of living affordability concerns continue to rise in the state of Texas.
Household items and SNAP:
The cost of eggs on average in 2026 is $5.43, with a 57% increase due to inflation. The cost of milk on average in 2026 is $3.99 in places like Houston, with varying costs for types of milk and region throughout the state.
275,000 people in Texas are at risk of losing some of their SNAP benefits, including 25,000 mixed status families as well. This will make groceries and other household items virtually impossible to afford.
Healthcare:
In general, Texas is the fifth most expensive state when it comes to healthcare. Medicaid: The federal spending bill is projected to reduce federal Medicaid funding by $39 billion in Texas over the next 10 years.
More than 22 million people will face significant premium cost increases, making healthcare virtually unaffordable. According to the Center for American Progress, a 55-year-old earning nearly $63,000 per year in Texas will see their annual premium costs increase by at least $4,840 on average.
Utilities and Rent:
The average monthly cost for all utilities in Texas is approximately $605, covering electricity, natural gas, water, and, in some studies, internet/phone. This is on the higher end nationally.
The national electricity rate hike will increase electricity costs in Texas by an average of $50 per year starting in 2026.
North Carolina
Healthcare pricing and cost of living affordability concerns continue to rise in the state of North Carolina.
Household items and SNAP:
The cost of eggs on average in 2026 is $5.60 with a 65% increase due to inflation. Some places even report up to an average of $7. The average cost of a gallon of milk in North Carolina is approximately $3.37, with prices ranging from $1.82 to $5.49 depending on location and retailer.
Additionally, because of new work requirements and non-citizen eligibility rules, 143,000 people in North Carolina are at risk of losing their SNAP benefits. This will make groceries and other household items virtually impossible to afford.
Healthcare:
An estimated 3 million people in North Carolina use Medicaid. Due to the OBBA and new work requirements, 520,000 North Carolinians could lose Medicaid coverage and could lead to 579 avoidable deaths per year in North Carolina.
For example, the Center for American Progress estimates that a single 28-year-old in North Carolina making about $39,000/year could see their benchmark silver premium costs nearly double from $1,565 to $2,686.
Utilities and Rent:
The average cost of utilities is around $511 in North Carolina according to 2025 data.
Electricity bills projected to increase by $200 annually due to the OBBBA.
Affordability impacts us all, especially with rising costs for basic necessities. When the cost of living rises faster than wages or income, families across the economic spectrum experience financial strain. For low-income households, affordability determines whether basic needs can be met. Like choosing groceries over paying the utility bill. For middle-income families, it shapes long-term stability, such as homeownership, education, and retirement savings.
Immigration status does not shield anyone from rising prices. Whether someone is a citizen, permanent resident, temporary visa holder, or undocumented, we all pay rent, buy groceries, pay utilities, and participate in the same economic system. The impacts and costs are universal and are a shared economic issue that influences financial security, workforce participation, and overall economic health for the country.
Sources:
PowerLines. Utility Bills Are Rising: 2025 Review (Q4 Update). 2026, https://powerlines.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/0126_PowerLines_Rising-Utility-Bills-Q4-Update-FINAL.pdf.
DC News Now. (n.d.). Grocery price check: Tracking the cheapest prices in the DMV. https://www.dcnewsnow.com/stretch-your-dollar/grocery-price-check-tracking-the-cheapest-prices-in-the-dmv/
Lin‑Fisher, B. (2025, September 23). Why grocery prices are going up. USA TODAY. https://www.usatoday.com/story/grocery/2025/09/23/why-grocery-prices-going-up/86296793007/
ABC 7 News – WJLA. (2026, January 12). Utility bills climb across DC and Northern Virginia as gas, electric rates rise [Video]. YouTube. https://www.wjla.com/news/local/dc-utility-bills-northern-virginia-utilities-prices-up-rate-hike-electric-dominion-energy-washington-gas-increase-winter-costs-dmv-prince-william-county-inflation-consumer-data-centers
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. (n.d.). Retail food prices: Food at home and food away from home (Chart ID 58350). https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/chart-gallery/chart-detail/?chartId=58350
Freddie Mac. (2024, November). Renting vs. owning: An updated economic comparison (Research Note). Freddie Mac. https://www.freddiemac.com/research/pdf/202411-Note-November-2024-Renting-vs-Owning.pdf
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026, February 13). Consumer Price Index, Washington‑Arlington‑Alexandria — January 2026 (Mid‑Atlantic Information Office). https://www.bls.gov/regions/mid-atlantic/news-release/consumerpriceindex_washingtondc.htm
