What is the cost of living in Harrisonburg, VA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Harrisonburg has an overall cost of living index of 109, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Virginia, Harrisonburg has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Virginia's index of 112.
The standard of living in Harrisonburg ranks as #53 most affordable out of the 188 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies Harrisonburg ranks as the #135 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.
For more reading on life in Harrisonburg, check out:
Harrisonburg Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Harrisonburg. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Harrisonburg is 104.
The Groceries index in Harrisonburg is 106.
The Health index in Harrisonburg is 110.
The Housing index in Harrisonburg is 103.
The Transportation index in Harrisonburg is 108.
The Utilities index in Harrisonburg is 106.
| Living Expense | Harrisonburg | Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 109 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 106 | 104 | 100 |
| Health | 110 | 131 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 105 | 100 |
| Transportation | 108 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 104 | 100 |
Harrisonburg 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 Harrisonburg Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Harrisonburg, 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 Harrisonburg is $348,178.
The Median Rent in Harrisonburg is $1,184.
The Median Income in Harrisonburg is $62,254.
The Home Value To Income in Harrisonburg is 5.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Harrisonburg is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Harrisonburg | Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $348,178 | $412,467 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,184 | $1,579 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $62,254 | $93,170 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.6x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Harrisonburg, VA Costs By Category
Detailed Harrisonburg Services costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Harrisonburg | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.71 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.32 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $25.5 | $18 |
| Haircut | $27.97 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $54.19 | $45.56 |
Detailed Harrisonburg Groceries costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Harrisonburg | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.34 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.78 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.33 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.47 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.67 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.81 | $3.7 |
Detailed Harrisonburg Health costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Harrisonburg | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $121.84 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $168.85 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $135.19 | $113.29 |
Detailed Harrisonburg Transportation costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Harrisonburg | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.49 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.76 | $59.92 |
Detailed Harrisonburg Utilities costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Harrisonburg | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.35 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $184.83 | $192.25 |
Harrisonburg SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Harrisonburg
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Harrisonburg. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Charlottesville, VA has a cost of living index of 124, 1.1x Harrisonburg.
Staunton, VA has a cost of living index of 102, 0.9x Harrisonburg.
Waynesboro, VA has a cost of living index of 99, 0.9x Harrisonburg.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Harrisonburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville, VA | 45,437 | 124 | 1.1x |
| Staunton, VA | 25,948 | 102 | 0.9x |
| Waynesboro, VA | 22,841 | 99 | 0.9x |
| Stuarts Draft, VA | 11,780 | 106 | 1.0x |
| Lake Monticello, VA | 10,662 | 114 | 1.0x |
| Strasburg, VA | 7,214 | 104 | 1.0x |
| Bridgewater, VA | 6,708 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Massanetta Springs, VA | 6,358 | 129 | 1.2x |
| Woodstock, VA | 5,871 | 108 | 1.0x |
