What is the cost of living in Petersburg, VA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Petersburg has an overall cost of living index of 96, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Virginia, Petersburg has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Virginia's index of 112.
The standard of living in Petersburg ranks as #18 most affordable out of the 188 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies Petersburg ranks as the #170 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.
For more reading on life in Petersburg, check out:
Petersburg Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Petersburg. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Petersburg is 100.
The Groceries index in Petersburg is 106.
The Health index in Petersburg is 73.
The Housing index in Petersburg is 102.
The Transportation index in Petersburg is 101.
The Utilities index in Petersburg is 108.
| Living Expense | Petersburg | Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 96 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 106 | 104 | 100 |
| Health | 73 | 131 | 100 |
| Housing | 102 | 105 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 108 | 104 | 100 |
Petersburg 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 Petersburg Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Petersburg, 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 Petersburg is $245,998.
The Median Rent in Petersburg is $1,174.
The Median Income in Petersburg is $50,698.
The Home Value To Income in Petersburg is 4.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Petersburg is 0.28x.
| Statistic | Petersburg | Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $245,998 | $412,467 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,174 | $1,579 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $50,698 | $93,170 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.9x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.28x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Petersburg, VA Costs By Category
Detailed Petersburg Services costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Petersburg | 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 Petersburg Groceries costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Petersburg | 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 Petersburg Health costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Petersburg | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $95.44 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $122.83 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $109.67 | $113.29 |
Detailed Petersburg Transportation costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Petersburg | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.27 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Petersburg Utilities costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Petersburg | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $227.22 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.33 | $192.25 |
Petersburg SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Petersburg
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Petersburg. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Chester, VA has a cost of living index of 111, 1.2x Petersburg.
Hopewell, VA has a cost of living index of 96, 1.0x Petersburg.
Meadowbrook, VA has a cost of living index of 108, 1.1x Petersburg.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Petersburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chester, VA | 24,474 | 111 | 1.2x |
| Hopewell, VA | 22,959 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Meadowbrook, VA | 20,749 | 108 | 1.1x |
| Colonial Heights, VA | 18,352 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Fort Lee, VA | 8,993 | 127 | 1.3x |
| Bellwood, VA | 7,907 | 99 | 1.0x |
| Bensley, VA | 5,949 | 99 | 1.0x |
| Ettrick, VA | 5,910 | 95 | 1.0x |
