What is the cost of living in Fairfax, VA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Fairfax has an overall cost of living index of 158, which is 1.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Virginia, Fairfax has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than Virginia's index of 112.
The standard of living in Fairfax ranks as #155 most affordable out of the 188 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies Fairfax ranks as the #33 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.
For more reading on life in Fairfax, check out:
Fairfax Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Fairfax. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Fairfax is 103.
The Groceries index in Fairfax is 101.
The Health index in Fairfax is 289.
The Housing index in Fairfax is 103.
The Transportation index in Fairfax is 102.
The Utilities index in Fairfax is 108.
| Living Expense | Fairfax | Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 158 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 104 | 100 |
| Health | 289 | 131 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 105 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 108 | 104 | 100 |
Fairfax 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 Fairfax Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Fairfax, 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 Fairfax is $792,535.
The Median Rent in Fairfax is $2,245.
The Median Income in Fairfax is $132,348.
The Home Value To Income in Fairfax is 6.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Fairfax is 0.2x.
Fairfax, VA Costs By Category
Detailed Fairfax Services costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Fairfax Groceries costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Fairfax Health costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Fairfax Transportation costs vs. Virginia
Fairfax SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Fairfax
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Fairfax. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Oakton, VA has a cost of living index of 162, 1.0x Fairfax.
Fair Oaks, VA has a cost of living index of 144, 0.9x Fairfax.
North Potomac, MD has a cost of living index of 176, 1.1x Fairfax.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakton, VA | 36,528 | 162 | 1.0x |
| Fair Oaks, VA | 35,545 | 144 | 0.9x |
| North Potomac, MD | 23,922 | 176 | 1.1x |
| Merrifield, VA | 20,698 | 154 | 1.0x |
| Franklin Farm, VA | 18,736 | 171 | 1.1x |
| Vienna, VA | 16,412 | 183 | 1.2x |
| Kings Park West, VA | 13,442 | 160 | 1.0x |
| Kemp Mill, MD | 13,042 | 147 | 0.9x |
| Wakefield, VA | 11,930 | 173 | 1.1x |
| Travilah, MD | 11,721 | 225 | 1.4x |
