| Index | Manassas | Virginia | National |
| Cost of living | 125 | 111 | 100 |
| Groceries | 104 | 103 | 100 |
| Health care | 103 | 103 | 100 |
| Housing | 177 | 129 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 103 | 104 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 100 | 103 | 100 |
| Household Items | 100 | 102 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 105 | 109 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Manassas 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 Manassas stands at 125, marking it 25% higher than the national average.
If you prioritize affordability when seeking a new place to live, Manassas may not be your ideal choice, as it ranks among the most expensive locations in the entire United States. A very small amount of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Manassas falls into this category, which may not align with your preferences for a budget-friendly living environment.
Housing costs are a very significant part of the Manassas cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 76.7% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.
Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 10 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Manassas and this is how they responded. 30% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 70% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.
Is Manassas 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 Manassas is 83.6% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 60.5% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Manassas has a median household income of $126,620, which is 55.7% higher than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Manassas, the groceries index is 4.1% higher than the national average.
Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Manassas, is 76.7% higher than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Manassas, healthcare costs are 2.5% higher than the national average.
The Manassas 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 | $159,835 | $13,320 | $3,729 | $4,796 |
| Renters | $77,437 | $6,453 | $1,807 | $2,323 |
| 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. |
| Midland, VA | 97 | 104 | 4.1% |
| Calverton, VA | 74 | 104 | 4.1% |
| Catlett, VA | 56 | 104 | 4.1% |
| Wakefield town, VA | 838 | 92 | 8.4% |
| Dumfries, VA | 5,715 | 114 | 13.8% |
| Manassas, VA | 42,659 | 125 | 25.1% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Coppell, TX | 42,647 | 131 | 31.0% |
| Mableton, GA | 42,633 | 106 | 5.7% |
| Langford, BC | 42,691 | n/a | |
| Woodlawn, MD | 42,611 | 113 | 13.2% |
| Moline, IL | 42,715 | 92 | 8.0% |
| Manassas, VA | 42,659 | 125 | 25.1% |
Here are the best places to live in Virginia
Check out the 10 safest cities in Virginia
Most Dangerous Cities In The US
Check out the 10 most dangerous cities in Virginia