What is the cost of living in Reston, VA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Reston has an overall cost of living index of 151, which is 1.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Virginia, Reston has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than Virginia's index of 112.
The standard of living in Reston ranks as #142 most affordable out of the 188 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies Reston ranks as the #46 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.
For more reading on life in Reston, check out:
Reston Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Reston. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Reston is 105.
The Groceries index in Reston is 99.
The Health index in Reston is 257.
The Housing index in Reston is 105.
The Transportation index in Reston is 101.
The Utilities index in Reston is 100.
| Living Expense | Reston | Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 151 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 105 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 104 | 100 |
| Health | 257 | 131 | 100 |
| Housing | 105 | 105 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 104 | 100 |
Reston 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 Reston Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Reston, 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 Reston is $635,987.
The Median Rent in Reston is $2,231.
The Median Income in Reston is $148,710.
The Home Value To Income in Reston is 4.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Reston is 0.18x.
Reston, VA Costs By Category
Detailed Reston Services costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Reston Groceries costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Reston Health costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Reston Transportation costs vs. Virginia
Reston SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Reston
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Reston. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Oakton, VA has a cost of living index of 162, 1.1x Reston.
Olney, MD has a cost of living index of 153, 1.0x Reston.
Sterling, VA has a cost of living index of 134, 0.9x Reston.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Reston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakton, VA | 36,528 | 162 | 1.1x |
| Olney, MD | 35,797 | 153 | 1.0x |
| Sterling, VA | 32,411 | 134 | 0.9x |
| Herndon, VA | 24,672 | 147 | 1.0x |
| North Potomac, MD | 23,922 | 176 | 1.2x |
| McNair, VA | 22,655 | 141 | 0.9x |
| Franklin Farm, VA | 18,736 | 171 | 1.1x |
| Wolf Trap, VA | 15,858 | 212 | 1.4x |
| Great Falls, VA | 15,228 | 229 | 1.5x |
| Kemp Mill, MD | 13,042 | 147 | 1.0x |
