Cost of Living in Richmond, VA
| Cost of Living in Richmond, VA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 16% lower | 16% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 4% lower | 4% lower |
| Food | 1% higher | 1% lower |
| Healthcare | 13% lower | 8% lower |
| Transportation | 2% higher | 3% lower |
| Goods & Services | 1% higher | 0% |
The cost of living in Richmond, VA is 5% lower than the state average and 6% lower than the national average. Richmond, VA housing is 16% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 4% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 1% cheaper in Richmond, VA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 0% .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 8% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 0% in Richmond, 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 Richmond is $1,605, while home prices circle around $424,634.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Richmond, energy bills cost around $201.82 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 $4.68 in Richmond, a dozen eggs go for around $4.17 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.99.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Richmond, an optometry check-up costs around $132.70, while a dentist appointment is priced $112.35 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.23 in Richmond, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $57.95.
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 $22.25 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $19.11.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Richmond, you should budget around $14.12 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $27.48, while dry cleaning costs about $16.44.
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 Richmond, the median household income is $64,587.