What is the cost of living in George Mason, VA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, George Mason has an overall cost of living index of 160, which is 1.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Virginia, George Mason has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than Virginia's index of 112.
The standard of living in George Mason ranks as #160 most affordable out of the 188 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies George Mason ranks as the #28 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.
For more reading on life in George Mason, check out:
George Mason Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in George Mason. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in George Mason is 104.
The Groceries index in George Mason is 104.
The Health index in George Mason is 287.
The Housing index in George Mason is 107.
The Transportation index in George Mason is 105.
The Utilities index in George Mason is 107.
| Living Expense | George Mason | Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 160 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 104 | 104 | 100 |
| Health | 287 | 131 | 100 |
| Housing | 107 | 105 | 100 |
| Transportation | 105 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 107 | 104 | 100 |
George Mason 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 George Mason Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
George Mason, 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 George Mason is $782,580.
The Median Rent in George Mason is $2,426.
The Median Income in George Mason is $150,341.
The Home Value To Income in George Mason is 5.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in George Mason is 0.19x.
| Statistic | George Mason | Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $782,580 | $412,467 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,426 | $1,579 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $150,341 | $93,170 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.2x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
George Mason, VA Costs By Category
Detailed George Mason Services costs vs. Virginia
| Item | George Mason | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.22 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.2 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.22 | $18 |
| Haircut | $18.62 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $35.2 | $45.56 |
Detailed George Mason Groceries costs vs. Virginia
| Item | George Mason | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.49 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.37 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.73 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.76 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.47 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.83 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.73 | $3.7 |
Detailed George Mason Health costs vs. Virginia
| Item | George Mason | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $109.25 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $94.1 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $109.57 | $113.29 |
Detailed George Mason Transportation costs vs. Virginia
| Item | George Mason | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.29 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $62.25 | $59.92 |
Detailed George Mason Utilities costs vs. Virginia
| Item | George Mason | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $248.7 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.37 | $192.25 |
George Mason SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around George Mason
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around George Mason. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Bethesda, MD has a cost of living index of 204, 1.3x George Mason.
Oakton, VA has a cost of living index of 162, 1.0x George Mason.
Fair Oaks, VA has a cost of living index of 144, 0.9x George Mason.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. George Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethesda, MD | 69,397 | 204 | 1.3x |
| Oakton, VA | 36,528 | 162 | 1.0x |
| Fair Oaks, VA | 35,545 | 144 | 0.9x |
| Fairfax, VA | 25,026 | 158 | 1.0x |
| North Potomac, MD | 23,922 | 176 | 1.1x |
| Franklin Farm, VA | 18,736 | 171 | 1.1x |
| Burke Centre, VA | 17,037 | 146 | 0.9x |
| Kings Park West, VA | 13,442 | 160 | 1.0x |
| Fairfax Station, VA | 12,566 | 173 | 1.1x |
| Wakefield, VA | 11,930 | 173 | 1.1x |








