What is the cost of living in Arlington, VA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Arlington has an overall cost of living index of 180, which is 1.8x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Virginia, Arlington has a cost of living index that's 1.6x higher than Virginia's index of 112.
The standard of living in Arlington ranks as #178 most affordable out of the 188 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies Arlington ranks as the #10 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.
For more reading on life in Arlington, check out:
Arlington Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Arlington. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Arlington is 106.
The Groceries index in Arlington is 107.
The Health index in Arlington is 340.
The Housing index in Arlington is 117.
The Transportation index in Arlington is 106.
The Utilities index in Arlington is 110.
| Living Expense | Arlington | Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 180 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 107 | 104 | 100 |
| Health | 340 | 131 | 100 |
| Housing | 117 | 105 | 100 |
| Transportation | 106 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 110 | 104 | 100 |
Arlington 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 Arlington Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Arlington, 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 Arlington is $823,811.
The Median Rent in Arlington is $2,322.
The Median Income in Arlington is $142,114.
The Home Value To Income in Arlington is 5.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Arlington is 0.2x.
Arlington, VA Costs By Category
Detailed Arlington Services costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Arlington Groceries costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Arlington Health costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Arlington Transportation costs vs. Virginia
Arlington SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Arlington
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Arlington. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Alexandria, VA has a cost of living index of 153, 0.8x Arlington.
Olney, MD has a cost of living index of 153, 0.8x Arlington.
West Falls Church, VA has a cost of living index of 153, 0.8x Arlington.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, VA | 156,976 | 153 | 0.8x |
| Olney, MD | 35,797 | 153 | 0.8x |
| West Falls Church, VA | 31,279 | 153 | 0.8x |
| North Potomac, MD | 23,922 | 176 | 1.0x |
| Lincolnia, VA | 20,320 | 144 | 0.8x |
| Idylwood, VA | 17,559 | 155 | 0.9x |
| Falls Church, VA | 14,710 | 184 | 1.0x |
| Colesville, MD | 14,519 | 145 | 0.8x |
| Kemp Mill, MD | 13,042 | 147 | 0.8x |
| Travilah, MD | 11,721 | 225 | 1.2x |
