| Index | Williamsburg | Virginia | National |
| Cost of living | 123 | 111 | 100 |
| Groceries | 103 | 103 | 100 |
| Health care | 104 | 103 | 100 |
| Housing | 165 | 129 | 100 |
| Transportation | 107 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 108 | 104 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 105 | 103 | 100 |
| Household Items | 103 | 102 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 103 | 109 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Williamsburg? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Williamsburg stands at 123, making it 23% 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 you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Williamsburg may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Williamsburg falls within this bracket.
Housing costs are a very significant part of the Williamsburg 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 64.7% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.
The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 21 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Williamsburg. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 38% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 62% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.
Is Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg, for instance, where the median home price falls 83.1% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 21.7% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Williamsburg flaunting a median household income of $89,002, 9.4% higher than the national norm.
Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Williamsburg, the transportation index is 6.9% higher than the national average.
Taxes: Locations with elevated tax rates, encompassing both sales and income taxes, can be a factor in driving up the cost of living. When you're paying more in taxes for everyday household expenses, it naturally translates into higher expenses. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can also contribute to an overall higher cost of living. In Williamsburg, the standard sales tax rate starts at 5.3%, and the income tax rates commence at 2%.
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 Williamsburg, the housing index comes in at 64.7% higher than the national average.
The Williamsburg cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional 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 | $139,537 | $11,628 | $3,256 | $4,187 |
| Renters | $56,095 | $4,675 | $1,309 | $1,683 |
| 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. |
| Newport News, VA | 184,134 | 105 | 5.3% |
| Surry, VA | 337 | 106 | 6.0% |
| Claremont, VA | 460 | 105 | 5.1% |
| Gloucester Point, VA | 10,715 | 110 | 9.9% |
| Rushmere, VA | 1,024 | 112 | 11.6% |
| Williamsburg, VA | 15,371 | 123 | 22.6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Alpine, CA | 15,370 | 170 | 69.9% |
| Pincourt, QC | 15,382 | n/a | |
| Kilgore, TX | 15,388 | 91 | 8.9% |
| Sterling, IL | 15,351 | 85 | 15.5% |
| Vandalia, OH | 15,393 | 90 | 9.8% |
| Williamsburg, VA | 15,371 | 123 | 22.6% |
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