What is the cost of living in Laurel, VA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Laurel has an overall cost of living index of 109, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Virginia, Laurel has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Virginia's index of 112.
The standard of living in Laurel ranks as #53 most affordable out of the 188 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies Laurel ranks as the #135 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.
For more reading on life in Laurel, check out:
Laurel Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Laurel. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Laurel is 105.
The Groceries index in Laurel is 102.
The Health index in Laurel is 120.
The Housing index in Laurel is 107.
The Transportation index in Laurel is 105.
The Utilities index in Laurel is 108.
| Living Expense | Laurel | Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 109 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 105 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 104 | 100 |
| Health | 120 | 131 | 100 |
| Housing | 107 | 105 | 100 |
| Transportation | 105 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 108 | 104 | 100 |
Laurel 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 Laurel Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Laurel, 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 Laurel is $304,862.
The Median Rent in Laurel is $1,616.
The Median Income in Laurel is $73,609.
The Home Value To Income in Laurel is 4.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Laurel is 0.26x.
Laurel, VA Costs By Category
Detailed Laurel Services costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Laurel Groceries costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Laurel Health costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Laurel Transportation costs vs. Virginia
Laurel SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Laurel
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Laurel. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Richmond, VA has a cost of living index of 112, 1.0x Laurel.
Tuckahoe, VA has a cost of living index of 122, 1.1x Laurel.
Mechanicsville, VA has a cost of living index of 112, 1.0x Laurel.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Laurel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | 229,359 | 112 | 1.0x |
| Tuckahoe, VA | 49,183 | 122 | 1.1x |
| Mechanicsville, VA | 38,683 | 112 | 1.0x |
| Short Pump, VA | 29,026 | 135 | 1.2x |
| Glen Allen, VA | 17,551 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Bon Air, VA | 16,904 | 115 | 1.1x |
| East Highland Park, VA | 15,265 | 100 | 0.9x |
| Brandermill, VA | 13,730 | 116 | 1.1x |
| Lakeside, VA | 12,654 | 105 | 1.0x |
| Wyndham, VA | 12,099 | 154 | 1.4x |
