| Index | Triangle | Virginia | National |
| Cost of living | 136 | 111 | 100 |
| Groceries | 103 | 103 | 100 |
| Health care | 103 | 103 | 100 |
| Housing | 210 | 129 | 100 |
| Transportation | 108 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 104 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 108 | 103 | 100 |
| Household Items | 101 | 102 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 107 | 109 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Triangle? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Triangle stands at 136, making it 36% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
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 Triangle 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, Triangle falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.
Housing costs are a major factor in the Triangle 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 109.9% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.
Is Triangle 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 Triangle is 143.2% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 32.2% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Triangle has a median household income of $138,186, which is 69.9% 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 Triangle, healthcare costs are 3% higher than the national average.
Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Triangle, the housing index comes in at 109.9% higher than the national average.
Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday household expenses like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Triangle starts at 5.3% and the income tax rates start at 2%.
The cost of living data for Triangle shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
| 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 | $225,207 | $18,767 | $5,254 | $6,757 |
| Renters | $73,516 | $6,126 | $1,715 | $2,206 |
| 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. |
| Potomac Heights, MD | 1,295 | 90 | 10.5% |
| Woodlawn CDP (Carroll County), VA | 2,334 | 89 | 11.3% |
| Boswell's Corner, VA | 1,479 | 94 | 5.6% |
| Quantico, VA | 475 | 108 | 7.7% |
| Indian Head, MD | 3,894 | 111 | 11.4% |
| Triangle, VA | 10,821 | 136 | 36.3% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Timberlane, LA | 10,822 | 98 | 1.8% |
| Tanaina, AK | 10,823 | 123 | 22.9% |
| Wasilla, AK | 10,818 | 121 | 21.4% |
| Jacinto City, TX | 10,826 | 87 | 13.0% |
| La Tuque, QC | 10,815 | n/a | |
| Triangle, VA | 10,821 | 136 | 36.3% |
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