Cost of living in Virginia

Everyday prices in Virginia run 1.1% above the US average, the 36th lowest of 51 states and DC.

By Sol Lakein, founder of Slower Sundays. Updated November 2026.

1% pricierEveryday prices¹36th lowest of 51
$455,953Typical home^2,3$2,506/mo mortgage
$1,673/mo2-bed rent⁴Utilities included
$134,730$150K in New York¹Buys the same life in Virginia

Virginia cities we cover

Cheapest first. Tap one for monthly costs, weather and flights.^1,2,4

Richmond2% cheaper than average
Home
$439,925
Mortgage
$2,418/mo
2-bed rent
$1,684
See Richmond

Virginia next to New York and the US

Longer bar = costs more.^1,4,2,3

VirginiaUnited StatesNew York metro

Everyday prices
1% pricier than averageUS average · New York metro 13% pricier
Housing, rent included
7% pricier than averageUS average · New York metro 49% pricier
2-bedroom rent$1,673/mo
7% more than the USUS $1,563 · New York metro $1,997
Typical home for sale$455,953
9% more than the USUS $419,250 · New York metro $742,000Mortgage $2,506/mo, US $2,304, New York metro $4,078. 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32%.

How affordable is Virginia?

Rent and home prices next to what households earn.⁶

$100,000

Typical household incomeA year · 14th highest of 51

20%

Of income goes to rentA year of 2-bed rent ($1,673/mo) against median income ($100,000). 29th lowest of 51.

4.6

Years of income to buy a home$455,953 median listing against $100,000 income. 22nd lowest of 50.

Are people moving to Virginia?

6,268 more people moved to Virginia from other states than left between July 2024 and July 2025 (Census Bureau estimates).

YearLeftArrivedNet moves
2019-20-9,130
2020-21-3,666
2021-22-26,089
2022-23-8,117
2023-24+2,461
2024-25+6,268

Where Americans are moving⁵

Metro areas in Virginia

Cheapest first. Tap one for its full cost of living.^1,4,2

Price levelUS averageShorter bar = cheaper, longer = pricier

Virginia next to its neighbors

The states that border Virginia, on the same measures. The number is each state's national rank on everyday prices.^1,4,2

Show 3 more

36VirginiaThis state1% pricier than average
2-bed rent
$1,673
Typical home
$455,953
Net moves
+6,268
44Maryland5% pricier than average
2-bed rent
$1,834
Typical home
$425,000
Net moves
-12,127
49District of Columbia10% pricier than average
2-bed rent
$2,541
Typical home
No data
Net moves
-4,128

Virginia by the numbers

Every figure on this page, as tables

Virginia next to New York and the US

Place	Price level	Housing	Typical home	Monthly payment	2-bedroom rent
Virginia	101.1	106.8	$455,953	$2,506	$1,673
United States	100.0	100.0	$419,250	$2,304	$1,563
New York metro	112.6	148.6	$742,000	$4,078	$1,997

Virginia cities we cover

City	Typical home	Monthly payment	2-bedroom rent	Price level
Richmond	$439,925	$2,418	$1,684	97.9

Metro areas in Virginia

Metro	Price level	2-bedroom rent	Typical home
Richmond, VA	97.9	$1,684	$439,925
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC	97.9	$1,567	$429,950

Virginia next to its neighbors

State	Price level	2-bedroom rent	Typical home	Net moves from other states
Virginia	101.1	$1,673	$455,953	+6,268
District of Columbia	109.9	$2,541	No data	-4,128
Kentucky	90.2	$1,089	$307,775	+7,269
Maryland	105.0	$1,834	$425,000	-12,127
North Carolina	94.3	$1,346	$400,000	+84,064
Tennessee	91.9	$1,306	$429,450	+42,389
West Virginia	89.5	$909	$259,997	+6,408

Net moves from other states

Year (July to July)	Net moves from other states
2019-20	-9,130
2020-21	-3,666
2021-22	-26,089
2022-23	-8,117
2023-24	+2,461
2024-25	+6,268

States with a similar cost of living to Virginia

Keep comparing

Virginia cost of living: questions people ask

What is the cost of living in Virginia?

Everyday prices in Virginia run 1.1% above the US average, the 36th lowest of 51 states and DC (BEA, 2024). Housing costs, rent included, index at 106.8 against a US average of 100. The median listed home is $455,953 (Realtor.com, September 2026), about $2,506 a month in principal and interest. The median 2-bedroom rent is $1,673 a month, utilities included (Census, 2025). A $150,000 salary in New York buys the same as $134,730 in Virginia.

Is Virginia cheap or expensive to live in?

More expensive than average. Virginia's regional price parity is 101.1, 1.1% above the US average (BEA, 2024).

How much does a house cost in Virginia?

The median listed home in Virginia is $455,953 as of September 2026 (Realtor.com via FRED), against $419,250 nationally. That ranks 31st lowest of 50. With 20% down at 7.32%, principal and interest run about $2,506 a month.

How much is rent in Virginia?

The median gross rent for a 2-bedroom in Virginia is $1,673 a month, including utilities the renter pays, against $1,563 for the US (Census American Community Survey, 2025).

What salary in Virginia equals $150,000 in New York?

About $134,730, using BEA regional price parities for Virginia (101.1) and the New York metro (112.6), 2024.

Are people moving to Virginia?

6,268 more people moved to Virginia from other states than left between July 2024 and July 2025 (Census Bureau estimates).

Which Virginia cities do you cover?

Richmond ($439,925). Each has its own page with monthly costs, weather and flights.

Find the cities that fit your family

Answer a few quick questions and get your shortlist, ranked on what you care about. Free, no account.

Find my cities

Notes on the numbers

1Everyday prices, housing costs and price levels: BEA regional price parities via FRED, 2024, where the US average is 100. In ranked lists, 1 is the cheapest.
2Homes: the typical home is the median listing price, Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026.
3Mortgage: 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.
4Rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, median gross rent for 2-bedroom units, including utilities.
5Net moves: US Census Bureau population estimates, net domestic migration, July to July.
6Affordability: our arithmetic on Census median gross rent (2025), Census median household income (2025) and Realtor.com median listing price (September 2026). Rank 1 is the most affordable.

Sources for this page