| Index | Colonial Heights | Virginia | National |
| Cost of living | 103 | 111 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 103 | 100 |
| Health care | 105 | 103 | 100 |
| Housing | 102 | 129 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 104 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 106 | 103 | 100 |
| Household Items | 100 | 102 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 108 | 109 | 100 |

Knowing the cost of living in Colonial Heights allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Colonial Heights stands at 103, marking it 3% higher than the national average.
In Colonial Heights, daily expenses such as food, housing, lifestyle expenses, transportation and health care are in line with comparable areas and about average when compared to all cities across the nation. This ensures that the cost of living in Colonial Heights will resemble that of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.
Is Colonial Heights affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Colonial Heights, for instance, where the median home price falls 0.9% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 10.2% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Colonial Heights flaunting a median household income of $89,873, 10.5% higher than the national norm.
Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Colonial Heights, the groceries index is 0.9% higher than the national average.
Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Colonial Heights, the transportation index is 2.7% higher than the national average.
Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Colonial Heights, healthcare costs are 4.8% higher than the national average.
The Colonial Heights cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $113,910 | $9,493 | $2,658 | $3,418 |
| Renters | $51,419 | $4,285 | $1,200 | $1,543 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Virginia | 5.3% | 6% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Virginia | 2% | 5.75% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Templeton, VA | 120 | 103 | 3.0% |
| Camptown, VA | 783 | 91 | 9.2% |
| Petersburg, VA | 31,836 | 94 | 6.3% |
| Hopewell, VA | 23,190 | 95 | 4.9% |
| Ettrick, VA | 5,172 | 97 | 2.7% |
| Colonial Heights, VA | 17,631 | 103 | 2.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Clive, IA | 17,633 | 110 | 10.4% |
| Lake Mary, FL | 17,634 | 128 | 27.8% |
| Lebanon, OR | 17,626 | 105 | 5.1% |
| Mattoon, IL | 17,637 | 84 | 16.0% |
| North Canton, OH | 17,640 | 93 | 6.8% |
| Colonial Heights, VA | 17,631 | 103 | 2.9% |