F
Overall 114%
Goods & Services 8%
Housing 364%
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2022 and was released from C2ER in January, 2022; 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.
IndexMcLeanVirginiaNational
Cost of living214107100
Goods & Services108100100
Groceries11196100
Health care84100100
Housing464130100
Transportation11393100
Utilities10597100

Key findings

  • The cost of living in McLean is 99% higher than the Virginia average
  • The cost of living in McLean is 114% higher than the national average
  • McLean housing is 364% higher than the national average
  • Virginia general sales tax is 4% higher than the national average
  • Virginia state income tax is 19% lower than the national average

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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 IncomePer YearPer MonthMax Budget (28% DTI)Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$207,456$17,288$4,840$6,224
      Renters$108,894$9,075$2,541$3,267
      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 $207,456 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $4,840 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $108,894, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $2,541 on monthly rental expenses.

      Virginia Sales Tax

      StateGeneral Sales TaxWith Max Surtax
      Virginia5.3%6%

      Virginia Income Tax

      StateIncome Tax (Low)Income Tax (High)
      Virginia2%5.75%

      Goods & Services

      ItemMcLeanNational avg.Difference
      Haircut $26.32$20.2729.8%
      Beauty Salon $64.54$40.3959.8%
      Toothpaste $2.19$2.367.3%
      Shampoo $0.96$1.0811.2%
      Movie $12.17$10.9910.8%
      Bowling $17.02$15.499.9%

      Groceries

      ItemMcLeanNational avg.Difference
      Ground Beef $5.18$4.3020.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.53$1.409.6%
      Milk $2.49$2.2012.9%
      Potatoes $3.30$3.222.4%
      Pizza $11.96$10.7411.4%
      Beer $10.97$9.6014.3%

      Health Care

      ItemMcLeanNational avg.Difference
      Optometrist $74.77$109.7331.9%
      Doctor $96.52$118.3418.4%
      Dentist $86.86$100.9414.0%
      Ibuprofen $9.92$9.930.2%
      Lipitor $398.89$469.5315.0%

      Housing

      ItemMcLeanNational avg.Difference
      Home Price $982,900.00$184,700.00432.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,757.85$1,229.62124.3%
      Apartment Rent $2,881.00$949.00203.6%

      Transportation

      ItemMcLeanNational avg.Difference
      Gasoline $2.97$2.719.5%
      Tire Balancing $61.49$51.8618.6%

      Utilities

      ItemMcLeanNational avg.Difference
      All Electricity$180.30$170.845.5%
      Phone $194.85$187.184.1%
      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

      CityPopulationCost of Living IndexNational Avg.
      Rose Hill CDP (Lee County), VA708909.6%
      Woodlawn CDP (Carroll County), VA2,247927.7%
      Wakefield town, VA810964.3%
      Belle Haven town, VA5621000.2%
      Cottage City, MD1,2091088.0%
      McLean, VA48,867214114.3%

      Cities with similar population

      CityPopulationCost of Living IndexNational Avg.
      Bedford, TX48,8641000.2%
      Murray, UT48,8341087.5%
      Sheboygan, WI48,813918.9%
      Shawinigan, QC48,810n/a 
      Cypress, CA48,97815454.2%
      McLean, VA48,867214114.3%
      Source: This data reflects 2021 and was released from C2ER in January, 2022; this is the most current data available.