What is the cost of living in Covington, VA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Covington has an overall cost of living index of 87, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Virginia, Covington has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than Virginia's index of 112.
The standard of living in Covington ranks as #2 most affordable out of the 188 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies Covington ranks as the #186 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.
For more reading on life in Covington, check out:
Covington Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Covington. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Covington is 105.
The Groceries index in Covington is 100.
The Health index in Covington is 50.
The Housing index in Covington is 104.
The Transportation index in Covington is 105.
The Utilities index in Covington is 103.
| Living Expense | Covington | Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 87 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 105 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 104 | 100 |
| Health | 50 | 131 | 100 |
| Housing | 104 | 105 | 100 |
| Transportation | 105 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 103 | 104 | 100 |
Covington 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 Covington Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Covington, 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 Covington is $158,022.
The Median Rent in Covington is $794.
The Median Income in Covington is $41,944.
The Home Value To Income in Covington is 3.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Covington is 0.23x.
Covington, VA Costs By Category
Detailed Covington Services costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Covington Groceries costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Covington Health costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Covington Transportation costs vs. Virginia
Covington SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Covington
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Covington. 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, 1.1x Covington.
Blacksburg, VA has a cost of living index of 120, 1.4x Covington.
Cave Spring, VA has a cost of living index of 108, 1.2x Covington.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Covington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke, VA | 98,355 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Blacksburg, VA | 45,446 | 120 | 1.4x |
| Cave Spring, VA | 25,742 | 108 | 1.2x |
| Salem, VA | 25,618 | 106 | 1.2x |
| Christiansburg, VA | 22,720 | 103 | 1.2x |
| Hollins, VA | 17,097 | 103 | 1.2x |
| Vinton, VA | 8,056 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Lexington, VA | 7,525 | 110 | 1.3x |
| Buena Vista, VA | 6,593 | 93 | 1.1x |
