What is the cost of living in Alexandria, VA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Alexandria has an overall cost of living index of 153, which is 1.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Virginia, Alexandria has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than Virginia's index of 112.
The standard of living in Alexandria ranks as #147 most affordable out of the 188 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies Alexandria ranks as the #41 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.
For more reading on life in Alexandria, check out:
Alexandria Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Alexandria. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Alexandria is 99.
The Groceries index in Alexandria is 102.
The Health index in Alexandria is 273.
The Housing index in Alexandria is 109.
The Transportation index in Alexandria is 99.
The Utilities index in Alexandria is 105.
| Living Expense | Alexandria | Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 153 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 104 | 100 |
| Health | 273 | 131 | 100 |
| Housing | 109 | 105 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 105 | 104 | 100 |
Alexandria Cost Of Living Compared To Virginia Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Virginia, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Alexandria Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Alexandria, VA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Virginia, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Alexandria is $676,204.
The Median Rent in Alexandria is $2,089.
The Median Income in Alexandria is $119,681.
The Home Value To Income in Alexandria is 5.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Alexandria is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Alexandria | Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $676,204 | $412,467 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,089 | $1,579 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $119,681 | $93,170 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.7x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Alexandria, VA Costs By Category
Detailed Alexandria Services costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Alexandria | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.34 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.08 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.34 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.51 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $47.63 | $45.56 |
Detailed Alexandria Groceries costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Alexandria | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.08 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.68 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.3 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.83 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.62 | $3.7 |
Detailed Alexandria Health costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Alexandria | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $120.12 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $135.82 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $98.77 | $113.29 |
Detailed Alexandria Transportation costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Alexandria | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.34 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.7 | $59.92 |
Detailed Alexandria Utilities costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Alexandria | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $213.29 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $184.83 | $192.25 |
Alexandria SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Alexandria
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Alexandria. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Arlington, VA has a cost of living index of 180, 1.2x Alexandria.
Lincolnia, VA has a cost of living index of 144, 0.9x Alexandria.
Colesville, MD has a cost of living index of 145, 0.9x Alexandria.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Alexandria |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington, VA | 236,254 | 180 | 1.2x |
| Lincolnia, VA | 20,320 | 144 | 0.9x |
| Colesville, MD | 14,519 | 145 | 0.9x |
| Groveton, VA | 13,931 | 142 | 0.9x |
| Huntington, VA | 13,502 | 139 | 0.9x |
| Kemp Mill, MD | 13,042 | 147 | 1.0x |
| Travilah, MD | 11,721 | 225 | 1.5x |
| Lake Barcroft, VA | 10,973 | 169 | 1.1x |
| Chevy Chase, MD | 9,445 | 257 | 1.7x |
| Seven Corners, VA | 9,371 | 134 | 0.9x |
