Cost of Living in Arlington, VA
| Cost of Living in Arlington, VA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 110% higher | 107% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 8% lower | 6% lower |
| Food | 12% higher | 12% higher |
| Healthcare | 16% higher | 14% higher |
| Transportation | 6% higher | 2% higher |
| Goods & Services | 0% | 8% higher |
The cost of living in Arlington, VA is 33% higher than the state average and 35% higher than the national average. Arlington, VA housing is 107% 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 12% pricier in Arlington, VA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 8% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 14% 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 Arlington, 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 Arlington is $2,667, while home prices circle around $1,090,667.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Arlington, energy bills cost around $189.50 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 $4.61 in Arlington, a dozen eggs go for around $3.79 and a pound of potatoes circles around $5.03.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Arlington, an optometry check-up costs around $147.29, while a dentist appointment is priced $131.67 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.39 in Arlington, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $63.64.
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 $36.79 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $34.03.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Arlington, you should budget around $15.79 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $30.81, while dry cleaning costs about $17.70.
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 Arlington, the median household income is $140,160.