Cost of living in Virginia
Prices in Virginia are 1.1% above the US average (16th highest of 51). A single filer on $75,000 pays $3,498 in state income tax. State sales tax: 5.3%.
Price levels in Virginia
| BEA RPP 2024 | Virginia | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 101.1 | +1.1% |
| Goods | 100.4 | +0.4% |
| Housing (rents) | 106.8 | +6.8% |
| Utilities | 92.2 | −7.8% |
| Other services | 100.2 | +0.2% |
Metros in Virginia
Metros whose principal city is in Virginia. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA-NC | 1,797,213 | 97.9 | $1,667 | $237 | $900 |
| Richmond, VA | 1,389,338 | 97.9 | $1,651 | $308 | $871 |
| Roanoke, VA | 316,547 | 93.6 | $1,464 | $233 | $1,138 |
| Lynchburg, VA | 269,169 | 89.4 | $1,117 | $155 | $1,417 |
| Charlottesville, VA | 228,597 | 99.1 | $1,642 | $274 | $946 |
| Blacksburg, VA | 181,616 | 92.7 | $1,340 | $186 | $1,338 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | 152,332 | 96.5 | $1,505 | $216 | $1,208 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 140,155 | 94.9 | $1,264 | $188 | $1,344 |
| Staunton, VA | 129,692 | 91.1 | $1,199 | $210 | $1,341 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Also partly in Virginia: Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV, Kingsport, TN-VA.
Taxes in Virginia (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| Virginia income tax | $2,061 | $3,498 | $6,086 | $5,422 |
| Virginia payroll taxes | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,358 | $4,841 | $7,264 | $8,313 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro). On $75,000, Virginia’s income and payroll taxes cost $3,498 a year more than in a state without them (federal taxes are the same: $13,408).
Childcare prices across Virginia
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $191 | $12,154 | $158 |
| Toddler (2) | $147 | $9,347 | $131 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $141 | $8,968 | $131 |
| School-age (5–12) | $142 | $9,033 | $129 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $119 a week in Norton City to $559 in Arlington County (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 133 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manassas Park City | $395,900 | $4,636 | 1.17% |
| Manassas City | $449,900 | $4,923 | 1.09% |
| Portsmouth City | $246,900 | $2,557 | 1.04% |
| Newport News City | $260,600 | $2,634 | 1.01% |
| Fairfax County | $732,800 | $7,368 | 1.01% |
| Amherst County | $212,400 | $975 | 0.46% |
| Campbell County | $211,600 | $950 | 0.45% |
| Bedford County | $297,400 | $1,285 | 0.43% |
| Mathews County | $360,900 | $1,547 | 0.43% |
| Amelia County | $282,400 | $1,079 | 0.38% |
Five highest and five lowest of 79 counties.
Not ranked because the Census median tax is top-coded at “$10,000 or more” (rate is a lower bound): Falls Church City (≥ 0.95%).
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from Virginia
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 265,444 in, 263,833 out (net +1,611).
- Maryland25,183 ±4,200
- Florida24,818 ±3,909
- North Carolina22,757 ±3,383
- California20,180 ±4,162
- New York16,364 ±3,786
- Texas15,476 ±4,016
- Pennsylvania15,246 ±3,605
- South Carolina12,665 ±2,634
- Florida28,901 ±6,694
- North Carolina28,409 ±5,573
- Maryland28,004 ±5,694
- California18,100 ±4,368
- Texas17,996 ±4,841
- New York10,310 ±2,359
- Georgia10,298 ±3,734
- Ohio9,082 ±2,897
Frequently asked questions
Is Virginia expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put Virginia’s overall price level at 101.1 in 2024 (US = 100), the 16th highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 106.8 and goods 100.4.
Does Virginia have a state income tax?+
Yes. A single filer earning $75,000 owes about $3,498 in Virginia income tax under 2026 law (4.7% of pay).
What is the sales tax in Virginia?+
The state rate is 5.3% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are taxed at 1%. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in Virginia?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Lynchburg, VA leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,417), and Richmond, VA the least ($871).