What is the cost of living in Glen Allen, VA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Glen Allen has an overall cost of living index of 111, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Virginia, Glen Allen has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Virginia's index of 112.
The standard of living in Glen Allen ranks as #60 most affordable out of the 188 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies Glen Allen ranks as the #128 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.
For more reading on life in Glen Allen, check out:
Glen Allen Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Glen Allen. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Glen Allen is 104.
The Groceries index in Glen Allen is 102.
The Health index in Glen Allen is 133.
The Housing index in Glen Allen is 107.
The Transportation index in Glen Allen is 106.
The Utilities index in Glen Allen is 107.
| Living Expense | Glen Allen | Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 111 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 104 | 100 |
| Health | 133 | 131 | 100 |
| Housing | 107 | 105 | 100 |
| Transportation | 106 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 107 | 104 | 100 |
Glen Allen 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 Glen Allen Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Glen Allen, 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 Glen Allen is $511,248.
The Median Rent in Glen Allen is $1,804.
The Median Income in Glen Allen is $92,723.
The Home Value To Income in Glen Allen is 5.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Glen Allen is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Glen Allen | Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $511,248 | $412,467 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,804 | $1,579 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $92,723 | $93,170 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.5x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Glen Allen, VA Costs By Category
Detailed Glen Allen Services costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Glen Allen | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.26 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.31 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.17 | $18 |
| Haircut | $20.0 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $54.17 | $45.56 |
Detailed Glen Allen Groceries costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Glen Allen | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.54 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.44 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.63 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.27 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.72 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.64 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.72 | $3.7 |
Detailed Glen Allen Health costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Glen Allen | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $95.44 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $122.83 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $109.67 | $113.29 |
Detailed Glen Allen Transportation costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Glen Allen | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.27 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Glen Allen Utilities costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Glen Allen | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $227.22 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.33 | $192.25 |
Glen Allen SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Glen Allen
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Glen Allen. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Tuckahoe, VA has a cost of living index of 122, 1.1x Glen Allen.
Mechanicsville, VA has a cost of living index of 112, 1.0x Glen Allen.
Short Pump, VA has a cost of living index of 135, 1.2x Glen Allen.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Glen Allen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuckahoe, VA | 49,183 | 122 | 1.1x |
| Mechanicsville, VA | 38,683 | 112 | 1.0x |
| Short Pump, VA | 29,026 | 135 | 1.2x |
| Laurel, VA | 18,721 | 109 | 1.0x |
| Bon Air, VA | 16,904 | 115 | 1.0x |
| Brandermill, VA | 13,730 | 116 | 1.0x |
| Lakeside, VA | 12,654 | 105 | 0.9x |
| Wyndham, VA | 12,099 | 154 | 1.4x |
| Rockwood, VA | 10,010 | 114 | 1.0x |
| Innsbrook, VA | 8,578 | 127 | 1.1x |
