What is the cost of living in Buena Vista, VA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Buena Vista has an overall cost of living index of 93, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Virginia, Buena Vista has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than Virginia's index of 112.
The standard of living in Buena Vista ranks as #12 most affordable out of the 188 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies Buena Vista ranks as the #176 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.
For more reading on life in Buena Vista, check out:
Buena Vista Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Buena Vista. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Buena Vista is 102.
The Groceries index in Buena Vista is 104.
The Health index in Buena Vista is 76.
The Housing index in Buena Vista is 100.
The Transportation index in Buena Vista is 107.
The Utilities index in Buena Vista is 107.
| Living Expense | Buena Vista | Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 93 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 104 | 104 | 100 |
| Health | 76 | 131 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 105 | 100 |
| Transportation | 107 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 107 | 104 | 100 |
Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Buena Vista, 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 Buena Vista is $196,020.
The Median Rent in Buena Vista is $1,112.
The Median Income in Buena Vista is $57,833.
The Home Value To Income in Buena Vista is 3.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Buena Vista is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Buena Vista | Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $196,020 | $412,467 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,112 | $1,579 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $57,833 | $93,170 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.4x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Buena Vista, VA Costs By Category
Detailed Buena Vista Services costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Buena Vista | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.34 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.59 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $18.42 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.89 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $53.95 | $45.56 |
Detailed Buena Vista Groceries costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Buena Vista | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.32 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.32 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.7 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.17 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.24 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.69 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.79 | $3.7 |
Detailed Buena Vista Health costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Buena Vista | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $136.88 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $139.83 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $105.92 | $113.29 |
Detailed Buena Vista Transportation costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Buena Vista | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.36 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $50.24 | $59.92 |
Detailed Buena Vista Utilities costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Buena Vista | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $213.27 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $184.83 | $192.25 |
Buena Vista SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Buena Vista
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Buena Vista. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Lynchburg, VA has a cost of living index of 102, 1.1x Buena Vista.
Staunton, VA has a cost of living index of 102, 1.1x Buena Vista.
Cave Spring, VA has a cost of living index of 108, 1.2x Buena Vista.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Buena Vista |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lynchburg, VA | 79,497 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Staunton, VA | 25,948 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Cave Spring, VA | 25,742 | 108 | 1.2x |
| Salem, VA | 25,618 | 106 | 1.1x |
| Waynesboro, VA | 22,841 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Hollins, VA | 17,097 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Stuarts Draft, VA | 11,780 | 106 | 1.1x |
| Madison Heights, VA | 10,266 | 97 | 1.0x |
| Vinton, VA | 8,056 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Lexington, VA | 7,525 | 110 | 1.2x |
