USA Cost of Living Compare US cities and states with official data

Cost of living in Virginia

Statewide averages from BEA, with every metro area in the state compared.

Overall prices vs US average 101.1 1.1% more expensive than the US officialBEA, 2024. US = 100
Rank among 51 states and DC 16th 1st = most expensive derivedFrom BEA, 2024
Housing (rents) vs US average 106.8 17th highest housing costs officialBEA, 2024. US = 100
Income per person, adjusted for prices $61,914 15th of 51, in 2017 dollars officialBEA real personal income, 2024

What the numbers say

  • Overall prices in Virginia are 1.1% above the national average, the 16th most expensive of 51 states and DC (BEA 2024).
  • Within Virginia, metro price levels run from 86.4 in Kingsport, TN to 108.9 in Washington, DC (US = 100).
  • After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $61,914 in 2017 dollars, 15th of 51 (BEA 2024).
  • No single category stands out in Virginia: housing is 6.8% above average, goods about average and other services about average.
  • Relative to the US, the price level in Virginia has barely moved: 103.2 in 2008, 100.1 in 2019 and 101.1 in 2024.

Written from this page's own figures. Price levels are for an average household basket and do not include taxes. How we calculate.

Where the money goes

Statewide price levels by category. Cities and rural areas within the state can differ a lot; see the metro table below.

In Virginia, utilities is the category furthest from the US average: 7.8% below

Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.

All items
101.1
Goods
100.4
Housing (rents)
106.8
Utilities
92.2
Other services
100.2

Bars to the right of the line cost more than the US average; to the left, less.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Virginia
All items101.1
Goods100.4
Housing (rents)106.8
Utilities92.2
Other services100.2

Gas prices

Regular gasoline averaged $3.86 a gallon in the Lower Atlantic region in the week of October 19, 2026, $0.42 less than the US average of $4.28. EIA does not publish a separate weekly figure for Virginia, so this is the regional average. official

Work out your commute's gas cost

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, weekly retail gasoline prices, regular grade, including taxes.

Cheapest places to live in Virginia

By overall prices, the cheapest of the 11 metro areas BEA measures in Virginia are Kingsport, TN (86.4), Lynchburg, VA (89.4) and Staunton, VA (91.1); the most expensive is Washington, DC (108.9). US average = 100, BEA 2024. Rural areas are not listed separately.

Kingsport, TN is the cheapest metro area in Virginia (86.4); Washington, DC the most expensive (108.9)

Overall price level, 2024. US average = 100.

Kingsport, TN Spans TN, VA
86.4
Lynchburg, VA
89.4
Staunton, VA
91.1
Blacksburg, VA
92.7
Roanoke, VA
93.6
Harrisonburg, VA
94.9
Winchester, VA Spans VA, WV
96.5
Richmond, VA
97.9
Virginia Beach, VA Spans VA, NC
97.9
Charlottesville, VA
99.1
Washington, DC Spans DC, VA, MD, WV
108.9

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
All items
Kingsport, TN86.4
Lynchburg, VA89.4
Staunton, VA91.1
Blacksburg, VA92.7
Roanoke, VA93.6
Harrisonburg, VA94.9
Winchester, VA96.5
Richmond, VA97.9
Virginia Beach, VA97.9
Charlottesville, VA99.1
Washington, DC108.9
Metro area Overall Housing Goods Utilities Other services Typical rent
Kingsport, TN 86.4 56.5 96.2 75.9 95.8 $1,330
Lynchburg, VA 89.4 63.9 96.8 87.8 98.6 $1,288
Staunton, VA 91.1 68.2 96.8 89.5 98.6 $1,448
Blacksburg, VA 92.7 74.4 96.8 88.1 98.6 $1,659
Roanoke, VA 93.6 78.5 96.8 88.9 98.6 $1,400
Harrisonburg, VA 94.9 82.3 96.8 88.5 98.6 $1,691
Winchester, VA 96.5 90.0 96.7 89.7 98.8 $1,825
Richmond, VA 97.9 99.1 96.8 89.2 98.6 $1,706
Virginia Beach, VA 97.9 99.8 96.8 89.6 98.6 $1,886
Charlottesville, VA 99.1 107.0 96.8 89.0 98.6 $2,040
Washington, DC 108.9 151.1 104.8 106.7 102.3 $2,407

Price levels: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.

How prices have changed since 2008

Price levels relative to the whole country in each year, not inflation.

Virginia has become less expensive relative to the US since 2008: 103.2 then, 101.1 now

Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.

US average = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Virginia
2008103.2
2009102.4
2010103.7
2011103.4
2012102.5
2013103.5
2014103.5
2015103.6
2016102.8
2017101.2
2018102.0
2019100.1
2020101.0
2021102.3
2022102.0
2023101.3
2024101.1

Goods: 102.7 in 2008, 100.4 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Virginia
2008102.7
2009101.8
2010101.7
2011100.6
201299.3
2013101.3
201499.0
201598.6
201699.2
201798.6
201899.7
201999.1
202099.4
2021101.4
2022100.5
2023101.1
2024100.4

Housing (rents): 112.9 in 2008, 106.8 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Virginia
2008112.9
2009114.2
2010114.4
2011114.5
2012113.4
2013115.8
2014115.2
2015114.9
2016111.8
2017110.9
2018112.6
2019107.4
2020111.4
2021110.1
2022107.7
2023105.6
2024106.8

Utilities: 90.9 in 2008, 92.2 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Virginia
200890.9
200994.1
201092.2
201192.3
201295.0
201392.5
201492.9
201594.5
201694.1
201791.5
201892.6
201994.6
202093.9
202191.9
202292.1
202392.4
202492.2

Other services: 101.2 in 2008, 100.2 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Virginia
2008101.2
200999.6
2010102.4
2011102.6
2012101.8
2013101.8
2014103.6
2015104.1
2016102.9
2017100.6
2018100.8
201998.7
202099.1
2021101.0
2022101.9
2023100.6
2024100.2

What incomes buy here

BEA divides personal income by local prices, so a dollar in a cheap state counts for more. This is income per resident (wages, benefits, investment income), not household or take-home pay.

After adjusting for prices, income per person in Virginia is $61,914, 15th of 51

Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for local price levels and inflation).

  • Virginia
  • United States

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.

Show the numbers
VirginiaUnited States
2008$49,355$45,816
2009$48,471$44,204
2010$48,469$44,808
2011$49,623$45,957
2012$50,690$46,796
2013$48,667$46,358
2014$49,588$47,661
2015$51,307$49,396
2016$52,239$49,828
2017$53,847$51,006
2018$54,059$52,242
2019$56,459$53,683
2020$58,286$56,514
2021$60,423$59,365
2022$58,797$57,104
2023$60,556$58,088
2024$61,914$59,195

Compare Virginia with other states

States with similar prices

All states ranked · States ranked by what income buys

Compare two cities

Sources and limits

  • Price levels and real income: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Regional Price Parities and real personal income by state, 2008–2024. Last updated February 19, 2026: new statistics for 2024; revised statistics for 2008-2023. Downloaded 2026-10-21.
  • Metro price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities by metro area. Typical rent: Data Provided by Zillow Group.
  • State figures average cities and rural areas. Taxes are not included. BEA figures lag by about 18 months.

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