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Cost of living in Richmond, VA

Compared with New York. Change city

$1,660a month less for the typical home than in New York1,2

That's $19,920 a year, enough to cover 8 months of the mortgage in Richmond. The average commute is 11 minutes shorter each way, about 1.8 hours a week back4.

Typical home $439,925 vs $742,000. 2-bedroom rent3 $1,684 vs $1,997. See the math

By Sol Lakein.Checked October 2026.How we compare costs

Downtown Richmond, RichmondBrendan Stephens / Unsplash
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  • College townVirginia Commonwealth University
  • On the waterJames River

Richmond at a glance, next to New York

5

What the median home costs each month

1,2
New York metro$4,078/mo
$742,000 typical home
Richmond$2,418/mo
$439,925 typical home

If you rent: median 2-bedroom

3
New York metro$1,997/mo
Richmond$1,684/mo
About $313 a month less in rent
Rent by apartment size in Richmond

Day-to-day costs

  • Housing costs61% cheaper than averageNew York: 49% above
  • Salary that matches $150,000 in New York6$130,404
Richmond in a paragraph

The median listed home in Richmond is $439,925 (Realtor.com, September 2026), 5% above the US median of $419,250. With 20% down at 7.32%, principal and interest come to about $2,418 a month. The median 2-bedroom rent is $1,684 a month, utilities included (Census, 2025). Everyday prices index at 97.9, where the US average is 100 (BEA, 2024). A $150,000 salary in New York buys the same as $130,404 here.

Weather

8
  • 28.8°January low
  • 89.5°July high
  • 8.8 inSnow per year

Home prices next to New York

1
Typical home for sale
New York metro$742,000
Richmond$439,925
41% less, a $302,075 difference
Price per square foot
New York metro$494
Richmond$226
2.2 times the space for the money

Your New York, in Richmond

We're matching Richmond's parks, museums, arenas and food halls to their New York counterparts. Until then, see how it works for Raleigh.

See how Richmond ranks for your household

Answer a few quick questions and see how Richmond ranks against 53 other cities for your household.

See how Richmond ranks for you

Is Richmond a good place to live?

Richmond fits families who want prices 2% below the US average and nonstop flights to New York. The main trade-off is homes list 5% above the US median. Here is what you gain and what you give up.

What you gain

  • Prices 2% below the US averageEveryday prices, rent included, index at 97.9 against a US average of 100.BEA regional price parities, 2024
  • Nonstop flights to New YorkFrom RIC to JFK, LGA, EWR.Airport route page, accessed October 14, 2026
  • University townVirginia Commonwealth UniversitySlower Sundays city profile
  • On the waterJames RiverSlower Sundays city profile

What you trade

  • Homes list 5% above the US median$439,925 median listing against $419,250 nationally.Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026

Is Richmond, VA a good place to live? Read the full pros and cons

More on Richmond and Virginia

Richmond cost of living: questions people ask

What is the cost of living in Richmond, VA?

The median listed home in Richmond is $439,925 (Realtor.com, September 2026), 5% above the US median of $419,250. With 20% down at 7.32%, principal and interest come to about $2,418 a month. The median 2-bedroom rent is $1,684 a month, utilities included (Census, 2025). Everyday prices index at 97.9, where the US average is 100 (BEA, 2024). A $150,000 salary in New York buys the same as $130,404 here.

How much would I save moving from New York to Richmond?

The median listed home is $439,925 in Richmond against $742,000 in the New York metro, 41% less. On a mortgage for each median home, that is about $1,660 a month less in principal and interest (20% down, 7.32%, Freddie Mac, October 22, 2026).

How much is rent in Richmond?

The median gross rent for a 2-bedroom in the Richmond metro is $1,684 a month, including utilities the renter pays (Census American Community Survey, 2025). In the New York metro it is $1,997, $313 more. The US median is $1,563.

What salary in Richmond matches $150,000 in New York?

$130,404. That is $150,000 adjusted by the BEA regional price parities for both metros (97.9 in Richmond, 112.6 in New York, 2024).

Does Richmond pay you to move there?

None of the relocation incentive programs we track cover Richmond as of October 2026.

What is the weather like in Richmond?

January lows average 28.8°F and July highs 89.5°F, with 8.8 inches of snow a year (NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Richmond International Airport).

Notes on the numbers
  1. 1Home prices: the typical home is the median listing price, with price per square foot, from Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. The comparison metro uses the same series and month.
  2. 2Monthly cost: Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA. Rate source
  3. 3Rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, median gross rent for 2-bedroom units (rent plus utilities). Covers all renters, including long-time tenants, not only new leases. Census table
  4. 4Commute: Census ACS 2025 1-year, table S0801, mean travel time to work (one way, workers who do not work from home), 2025. Hours back assume a 5-day round trip. Census table
  5. 5At a glance: a difference within 5% counts as about the same.
  6. 6Everyday prices, housing costs and the matching salary: BEA regional price parities, 2024, US = 100.
  7. 7Flights: airport route pages, October 2026.
  8. 8Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Richmond International Airport.
Sources for this page