A
1%
Overall NAT. AVG.
3%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
5%
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 Waynesboro Virginia National
Cost of living99109100
Goods & Services103100100
Groceries99101100
Health care9699100
Housing95130100
Transportation9395100
Utilities105104100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Waynesboro, VA

The cost of living in Waynesboro affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Waynesboro is 99, which is 1% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

The cost of living in Waynesboro closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utilities are priced at a level consistent with similar urban areas. This means that residents of Waynesboro can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

Is Waynesboro Affordable?

Wondering if Waynesboro is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Waynesboro, for example, the median home price is 0.6% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 16.8% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Waynesboro boasting a median household income of $43,480, which is 21.4% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Waynesboro?

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Waynesboro, healthcare costs are 4.3% lower 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 Waynesboro, the groceries index is 0.6% lower than the national average.

Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Waynesboro, the utilities index registers 4.8% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Waynesboro 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. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Waynesboro is 9% lower than the Virginia average
  • The cost of living in Waynesboro is 1% lower than the national average
  • Waynesboro housing is 5% lower 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 Waynesboro

See all the best places to live around Waynesboro

Compare Waynesboro, 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$64,541$5,378$1,506$1,936
      Renters$27,078$2,257$632$812
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Waynesboro, VA, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Waynesboro homeowners, is $64,541. This would allow for a maximum of $1,506 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $27,078 which would result in a maximum of $632 to be spent on rental costs.

      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 Waynesboro National avg. Difference
      Haircut $27.97$24.2615.3%
      Beauty Salon $54.19$45.5618.9%
      Toothpaste $3.81$3.702.9%
      Shampoo $1.71$1.2833.5%
      Movie $15.32$12.1326.3%
      Bowling $25.50$18.0041.7%

      Groceries

      Item Waynesboro National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.34$5.848.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.41$1.5710.4%
      Milk $4.78$4.672.4%
      Potatoes $5.33$4.938.0%
      Pizza $12.47$12.093.2%
      Beer $11.67$10.4112.1%

      Health Care

      Item Waynesboro National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $121.84$125.683.1%
      Doctor $168.85$135.7824.4%
      Dentist $135.19$113.2919.3%
      Ibuprofen $11.86$10.6511.4%
      Lipitor $414.10$468.6011.6%

      Housing

      Item Waynesboro National avg. Difference
      Home Price $183,600.00$184,700.000.6%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $5,381.45$2,346.69129.3%
      Apartment Rent $790.00$949.0016.8%

      Transportation

      Item Waynesboro National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.49$3.460.8%
      Tire Balancing $57.76$59.923.6%

      Utilities

      Item Waynesboro National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $201.35$193.993.8%
      Phone $184.83$192.253.9%
      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.
      Wintergreen, VA4941010.9%
      Crimora, VA2,297946.5%
      Verona, VA3,965972.6%
      Sherando, VA549982.2%
      Greenville, VA1,434982.0%
      Waynesboro, VA22,300991.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Patterson, CA22,30912828.0%
      Frederickson, WA22,29013131.4%
      Yellowknife, NT22,316n/a 
      Prairie Village, KS22,25511515.1%
      Middletown, DE22,35011717.1%
      Waynesboro, VA22,300991.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.