Cost of Living in Arlington, VA
| Cost of Living in Arlington, VA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 104% higher | 105% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 7% lower | 6% lower |
| Food | 13% higher | 11% higher |
| Healthcare | 14% higher | 20% higher |
| Transportation | 8% higher | 2% higher |
| Goods & Services | 8% higher | 7% higher |
The cost of living in Arlington, VA is 35% higher than the state average and 34% higher than the national average. Arlington, VA housing is 105% 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 Arlington, VA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 7% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 20% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 7% 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 $2,697, while home prices circle around $1,075,515.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Arlington, energy bills cost around $193.64 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 $4.57 in Arlington, a dozen eggs go for around $4.42 and a pound of potatoes circles around $5.00.
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 $182.13, while a dentist appointment is priced $142.62 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.26 in Arlington, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $68.43.
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 $39.44 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $34.86.
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 $16.25 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $32.24, while dry cleaning costs about $17.22.
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.