What is the cost of living in Emporia, VA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Emporia has an overall cost of living index of 91, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Virginia, Emporia has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than Virginia's index of 112.
The standard of living in Emporia ranks as #11 most affordable out of the 188 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies Emporia ranks as the #177 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.
For more reading on life in Emporia, check out:
Emporia Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Emporia. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Emporia is 102.
The Groceries index in Emporia is 103.
The Health index in Emporia is 71.
The Housing index in Emporia is 101.
The Transportation index in Emporia is 99.
The Utilities index in Emporia is 106.
| Living Expense | Emporia | Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 91 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 103 | 104 | 100 |
| Health | 71 | 131 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 105 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 104 | 100 |
Emporia 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 Emporia Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Emporia, 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 Emporia is $159,793.
The Median Rent in Emporia is $1,037.
The Median Income in Emporia is $51,899.
The Home Value To Income in Emporia is 3.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Emporia is 0.24x.
Emporia, VA Costs By Category
Detailed Emporia Services costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Emporia Groceries costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Emporia Health costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Emporia Transportation costs vs. Virginia
Emporia SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Emporia
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Emporia. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Suffolk, VA has a cost of living index of 116, 1.3x Emporia.
Petersburg, VA has a cost of living index of 96, 1.1x Emporia.
Chester, VA has a cost of living index of 111, 1.2x Emporia.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Emporia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk, VA | 98,796 | 116 | 1.3x |
| Petersburg, VA | 33,537 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Chester, VA | 24,474 | 111 | 1.2x |
| Hopewell, VA | 22,959 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Colonial Heights, VA | 18,352 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Roanoke Rapids, NC | 14,856 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Fort Lee, VA | 8,993 | 127 | 1.4x |
| Franklin, VA | 8,250 | 101 | 1.1x |
| Ettrick, VA | 5,910 | 95 | 1.0x |
