Cost of Living in Virginia (VA)
Compare costs across 5 Virginia cities. From home services to salaries, see how VA stacks up against the national average.
5
Cities
99
Avg Cost Index
$61K
Avg Income
Direct Answer
Virginia's average cost index is 99, which is near the national baseline of 100. Newport News is the most affordable tracked city in VA at index 94, while Virginia Beach is the most expensive at index 105.
The gap between the cheapest and most expensive tracked cities is 11 index points, so state-level averages should be used as a map, not a final budget.
State cost overviewBLS, Census, HUD inputsLast verified May 2026
Virginia Highlights: Most affordable city: Newport News (index 94). Most expensive: Virginia Beach (index 105). The gap between cheapest and most expensive is 11 index points.
What Drives the Statewide Cost Picture?
Average index
99/100
Virginia is near the national cost baseline across tracked cities.
Cheapest city
Newport News
Newport News has a cost index of 94.
Most expensive
Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach has a cost index of 105.
Income average
$61K
Average median household income across 5 tracked VA cities.
Cheapest and Most Expensive Cities in Virginia
| City | Population | Cost Index | Median Income | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | 459K | 105 | $77K | mid |
| Chesapeake | 249K | 100 | $78K | mid |
| Norfolk | 238K | 96 | $50K | mid |
| Richmond | 227K | 100 | $49K | mid |
| Newport News | 186K | 94 | $52K | mid |
Virginia State Taxes (2026)
Headline tax rates that affect your real take-home pay and total cost of living in Virginia.
State Income Tax
2-5.75%
progressive system
Combined Sales Tax
5.72%
4.3% state + 1.42% avg local
Property Tax (Effective)
0.81%
~$2,430/yr on a $300K home
Income tax: Virginia uses a progressive income tax at 2-5.75%. No state estate tax. Estimate your take-home pay
State Planning Checklist
- Start with Newport News if the priority is lowest recurring cost inside Virginia.
- Compare Virginia Beach against salary and tax advantages before assuming the higher-cost city is worse.
- Use city pages for rent, salary, insurance, and local service costs before making a relocation decision.