Cost of Living in Arlington, VA
| Cost of Living in Arlington, VA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 108% higher | 113% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 4% lower | 1% lower |
| Food | 15% higher | 13% higher |
| Healthcare | 11% higher | 12% higher |
| Transportation | 7% higher | 1% lower |
| Goods & Services | 8% higher | 8% higher |
The cost of living in Arlington, VA is 37% higher than the state average and 36% higher than the national average. Arlington, VA housing is 113% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 1% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 13% 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 12% 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 $2,689, while home prices circle around $1,068,231.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Arlington, energy bills cost around $199.35 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 $4.76 in Arlington, a dozen eggs go for around $4.40 and a pound of potatoes circles around $5.27.
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 $128.20, while a dentist appointment is priced $133.89 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.37 in Arlington, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $57.14.
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 $39.03 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $31.26.
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 $15.49 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $28.48, while dry cleaning costs about $16.25.
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.