What is the cost of living in Great Falls, VA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Great Falls has an overall cost of living index of 229, which is 2.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Virginia, Great Falls has a cost of living index that's 2.0x higher than Virginia's index of 112.
The standard of living in Great Falls ranks as #187 most affordable out of the 188 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies Great Falls ranks as the #1 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.
For more reading on life in Great Falls, check out:
Great Falls Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Great Falls. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Great Falls is 102.
The Groceries index in Great Falls is 102.
The Health index in Great Falls is 518.
The Housing index in Great Falls is 106.
The Transportation index in Great Falls is 103.
The Utilities index in Great Falls is 97.
| Living Expense | Great Falls | Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 229 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 104 | 100 |
| Health | 518 | 131 | 100 |
| Housing | 106 | 105 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 104 | 100 |
Great Falls 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 Great Falls Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Great Falls, 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 Great Falls is $1,682,446.
The Median Rent in Great Falls is $3,501.
The Median Income in Great Falls is $250,001.
The Home Value To Income in Great Falls is 6.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Great Falls is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Great Falls | Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,682,446 | $412,467 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $3,501 | $1,579 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $250,001 | $93,170 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.7x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Great Falls, VA Costs By Category
Detailed Great Falls Services costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Great Falls | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.51 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.69 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.83 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.11 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $70.08 | $45.56 |
Detailed Great Falls Groceries costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Great Falls | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.24 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.4 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.78 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.49 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.56 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.1 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.81 | $3.7 |
Detailed Great Falls Health costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Great Falls | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $92.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $135.03 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.67 | $113.29 |
Detailed Great Falls Transportation costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Great Falls | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.25 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $59.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Great Falls Utilities costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Great Falls | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $222.47 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $197.37 | $192.25 |
Great Falls SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Great Falls
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Great Falls. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Reston, VA has a cost of living index of 151, 0.7x Great Falls.
Olney, MD has a cost of living index of 153, 0.7x Great Falls.
Sterling, VA has a cost of living index of 134, 0.6x Great Falls.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Great Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reston, VA | 64,414 | 151 | 0.7x |
| Olney, MD | 35,797 | 153 | 0.7x |
| Sterling, VA | 32,411 | 134 | 0.6x |
| Clarksburg, MD | 30,487 | 156 | 0.7x |
| Herndon, VA | 24,672 | 147 | 0.6x |
| North Potomac, MD | 23,922 | 176 | 0.8x |
| Wolf Trap, VA | 15,858 | 212 | 0.9x |
| Colesville, MD | 14,519 | 145 | 0.6x |
| Kemp Mill, MD | 13,042 | 147 | 0.6x |
| Sugarland Run, VA | 12,629 | 144 | 0.6x |
