What is the cost of living in Blacksburg, VA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Blacksburg has an overall cost of living index of 120, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Virginia, Blacksburg has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Virginia's index of 112.
The standard of living in Blacksburg ranks as #79 most affordable out of the 188 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies Blacksburg ranks as the #109 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.
For more reading on life in Blacksburg, check out:
Blacksburg Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Blacksburg. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Blacksburg is 104.
The Groceries index in Blacksburg is 106.
The Health index in Blacksburg is 157.
The Housing index in Blacksburg is 101.
The Transportation index in Blacksburg is 105.
The Utilities index in Blacksburg is 102.
| Living Expense | Blacksburg | Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 120 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 106 | 104 | 100 |
| Health | 157 | 131 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 105 | 100 |
| Transportation | 105 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 104 | 100 |
Blacksburg 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 Blacksburg Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Blacksburg, 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 Blacksburg is $420,778.
The Median Rent in Blacksburg is $1,359.
The Median Income in Blacksburg is $50,182.
The Home Value To Income in Blacksburg is 8.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Blacksburg is 0.32x.
| Statistic | Blacksburg | Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $420,778 | $412,467 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,359 | $1,579 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $50,182 | $93,170 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.4x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.32x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Blacksburg, VA Costs By Category
Detailed Blacksburg Services costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Blacksburg | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.72 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.61 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $27.24 | $18 |
| Haircut | $27.83 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $59.17 | $45.56 |
Detailed Blacksburg Groceries costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Blacksburg | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.67 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.83 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.33 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.62 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.14 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $4.1 | $3.7 |
Detailed Blacksburg Health costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Blacksburg | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $130.89 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $159.79 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $125.44 | $113.29 |
Detailed Blacksburg Transportation costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Blacksburg | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.51 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $80.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Blacksburg Utilities costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Blacksburg | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $200.62 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $184.83 | $192.25 |
Blacksburg SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Blacksburg
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Blacksburg. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Roanoke, VA has a cost of living index of 94, 0.8x Blacksburg.
Cave Spring, VA has a cost of living index of 108, 0.9x Blacksburg.
Salem, VA has a cost of living index of 106, 0.9x Blacksburg.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Blacksburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke, VA | 98,355 | 94 | 0.8x |
| Cave Spring, VA | 25,742 | 108 | 0.9x |
| Salem, VA | 25,618 | 106 | 0.9x |
| Christiansburg, VA | 22,720 | 103 | 0.9x |
| Hollins, VA | 17,097 | 103 | 0.9x |
| Radford, VA | 16,726 | 100 | 0.8x |
| Martinsville, VA | 13,658 | 89 | 0.7x |
| Pulaski, VA | 8,893 | 90 | 0.8x |
| Vinton, VA | 8,056 | 96 | 0.8x |
| Covington, VA | 5,680 | 87 | 0.7x |
