F
125%
Overall NAT. AVG.
9%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
403%
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 McLean Virginia National
Cost of living225109100
Goods & Services109100100
Groceries108101100
Health care9799100
Housing503130100
Transportation9595100
Utilities110104100

An Overview of Cost of Living in McLean, VA

Understanding the cost of living in McLean can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The McLean cost of living index is 225, which is 125% higher than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in McLean is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, McLean falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the McLean 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 402.7% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

Is McLean Affordable?

Is McLean 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 McLean, for instance, where the median home price falls 474.7% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 234.7% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with McLean flaunting a median household income of $222,587, 302.3% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in McLean?

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 McLean, healthcare costs are 2.8% lower than the national average.

Utilities: Much like any other costs, utility expenses can exhibit considerable variations, influenced by factors such as climate, available energy sources, geographic location and state regulations. The costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can vary significantly depending on the city or state in question. In McLean, the utilities index stands at 10.2% higher than the national average.

Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The McLean 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 McLean is 107% higher than the Virginia average
  • The cost of living in McLean is 125% higher than the national average
  • McLean housing is 403% higher than the national average
  • Virginia general sales tax is 4% higher than the national average
  • Virginia state income tax is 11% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around McLean

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Compare McLean, 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$246,136$20,511$5,743$7,385
      Renters$117,431$9,786$2,740$3,523
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in McLean, VA, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In McLean, the median monthly income is $246,136 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $5,743 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $117,431, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $2,740 on monthly rental expenses.

      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 McLean National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.11$24.267.6%
      Beauty Salon $70.08$45.5653.8%
      Toothpaste $3.81$3.702.8%
      Shampoo $1.51$1.2817.9%
      Movie $15.69$12.1329.3%
      Bowling $24.83$18.0038.0%

      Groceries

      Item McLean National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.24$5.846.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.40$1.5711.0%
      Milk $4.78$4.672.2%
      Potatoes $5.49$4.9311.3%
      Pizza $12.56$12.093.9%
      Beer $11.10$10.416.6%

      Health Care

      Item McLean National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $92.00$125.6826.8%
      Doctor $135.03$135.780.5%
      Dentist $117.67$113.293.9%
      Ibuprofen $11.52$10.658.1%
      Lipitor $403.79$468.6013.8%

      Housing

      Item McLean National avg. Difference
      Home Price $1,061,500.00$184,700.00474.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $4,819.29$2,346.69105.4%
      Apartment Rent $3,176.00$949.00234.7%

      Transportation

      Item McLean National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.25$3.466.0%
      Tire Balancing $59.00$59.921.5%

      Utilities

      Item McLean National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $222.47$193.9914.7%
      Phone $197.37$192.252.7%
      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%
      McLean, VA48,566225125.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Draper, UT48,59414544.6%
      Tuckahoe, VA48,51712020.4%
      North Highlands, CA48,66011717.0%
      Antelope, CA48,46813333.4%
      East Lansing, MI48,437973.2%
      McLean, VA48,566225125.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.