Cost of Living in Alexandria, VA
| Cost of Living in Alexandria, VA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 37% higher | 72% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 3% lower | 6% lower |
| Food | 8% higher | 11% higher |
| Healthcare | 9% higher | 11% higher |
| Transportation | 4% higher | 2% higher |
| Goods & Services | 5% higher | 8% higher |
The cost of living in Alexandria, VA is 16% higher than the state average and 26% higher than the national average. Alexandria, VA housing is 72% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 6% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 11% pricier in Alexandria, VA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 8% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 11% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 8% pricier in Alexandria, VA.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Alexandria is $2,188, while home prices circle around $986,199.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Alexandria, energy bills cost around $205.89 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.86 in Alexandria, a dozen eggs go for around $4.78 and a pound of potatoes circles around $5.16.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Alexandria, an optometry check-up costs around $198.79, while a dentist appointment is priced $142.00 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.06 in Alexandria, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $67.47.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $37.18 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $33.31.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Alexandria, you should budget around $16.68 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $29.96, while dry cleaning costs about $18.82.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Alexandria, the median household income is $119,681.