F
77%
Overall NAT. AVG.
8%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
241%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Arlington Virginia National
Cost of living177109100
Goods & Services108100100
Groceries114101100
Health care11299100
Housing341130100
Transportation10095100
Utilities101104100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Arlington, VA

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Arlington is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Arlington is 177, which is 77% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Arlington may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Arlington falls within this bracket.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Arlington cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 240.7% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

The substantial and relentless rise in grocery prices definitely warrants some attention. Over the past two years, grocery expenses have escalated by more than 10%. Having said that, the situation in Arlington is even less favorable, with grocery prices here being 13.9% higher than the national average.

Is Arlington Affordable?

Is Arlington an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Arlington is 296.2% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 111.3% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Arlington has a median household income of $122,604, which is 121.6% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Arlington?

Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Arlington, the transportation index stands at 0.5% lower than the national average.

Taxes: Cities that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an escalated cost of living. The added expense of taxes on everyday goods like clothing and food naturally results in higher overall costs. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can further elevate the cost of living. In Arlington, the general sales tax rate starts at 5.3%, and income tax rates begin at 2%.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In Arlington, the utilities index registers at 1% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Arlington cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Arlington is 63% higher than the Virginia average
  • The cost of living in Arlington is 77% higher than the national average
  • Arlington housing is 241% higher than the national average
  • Virginia general sales tax is 4% higher than the national average
  • Virginia state income tax is 23% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Arlington

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Compare Arlington, VA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$172,902$14,409$4,034$5,188
      Renters$93,369$7,781$2,178$2,801
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Arlington is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Arlington has a median income of about $172,902 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $4,034 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $93,369. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $2,178 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      Virginia Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Virginia 5.3% 6%

      Virginia Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Virginia 2% 5.75%

      Goods & Services

      Item Arlington National avg. Difference
      Haircut $18.62$24.2623.3%
      Beauty Salon $35.20$45.5622.7%
      Toothpaste $3.73$3.700.7%
      Shampoo $1.22$1.285.0%
      Movie $11.20$12.137.7%
      Bowling $19.22$18.006.8%

      Groceries

      Item Arlington National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.49$5.846.0%
      Fried Chicken $1.37$1.5713.0%
      Milk $4.73$4.671.3%
      Potatoes $4.76$4.933.5%
      Pizza $12.47$12.093.2%
      Beer $10.83$10.414.1%

      Health Care

      Item Arlington National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $109.25$125.6813.1%
      Doctor $94.10$135.7830.7%
      Dentist $109.57$113.293.3%
      Ibuprofen $10.51$10.651.3%
      Lipitor $487.97$468.604.1%

      Housing

      Item Arlington National avg. Difference
      Home Price $731,700.00$184,700.00296.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,870.08$2,346.6920.3%
      Apartment Rent $2,005.00$949.00111.3%

      Transportation

      Item Arlington National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.29$3.464.9%
      Tire Balancing $62.25$59.923.9%

      Utilities

      Item Arlington National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $248.70$193.9928.2%
      Phone $185.37$192.253.6%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Rose Hill CDP (Lee County), VA708927.8%
      Woodlawn CDP (Carroll County), VA2,247945.9%
      Wakefield town, VA810954.6%
      Belle Haven town, VA5621022.0%
      Cottage City, MD1,1501088.4%
      Arlington, VA236,43417777.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Fremont, CA234,829219118.7%
      Garland, TX238,6221098.5%
      Hialeah, FL233,87611413.6%
      Irving, TX240,4751076.6%
      Regina, SK241,465n/a 
      Arlington, VA236,43417777.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.