What is the cost of living in Salem, VA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Salem has an overall cost of living index of 106, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Virginia, Salem has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Virginia's index of 112.
The standard of living in Salem ranks as #44 most affordable out of the 188 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies Salem ranks as the #144 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.
For more reading on life in Salem, check out:
Salem Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Salem. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Salem is 103.
The Groceries index in Salem is 101.
The Health index in Salem is 107.
The Housing index in Salem is 104.
The Transportation index in Salem is 105.
The Utilities index in Salem is 104.
| Living Expense | Salem | Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 106 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 104 | 100 |
| Health | 107 | 131 | 100 |
| Housing | 104 | 105 | 100 |
| Transportation | 105 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 104 | 100 |
Salem 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 Salem Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Salem, 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 Salem is $305,425.
The Median Rent in Salem is $1,133.
The Median Income in Salem is $66,725.
The Home Value To Income in Salem is 4.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Salem is 0.2x.
Salem, VA Costs By Category
Detailed Salem Services costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Salem Groceries costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Salem Health costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Salem Transportation costs vs. Virginia
Salem SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Salem
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Salem. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Roanoke, VA has a cost of living index of 94, 0.9x Salem.
Lynchburg, VA has a cost of living index of 102, 1.0x Salem.
Blacksburg, VA has a cost of living index of 120, 1.1x Salem.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke, VA | 98,355 | 94 | 0.9x |
| Lynchburg, VA | 79,497 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Blacksburg, VA | 45,446 | 120 | 1.1x |
| Cave Spring, VA | 25,742 | 108 | 1.0x |
| Christiansburg, VA | 22,720 | 103 | 1.0x |
| Hollins, VA | 17,097 | 103 | 1.0x |
| Radford, VA | 16,726 | 100 | 0.9x |
| Timberlake, VA | 12,725 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Vinton, VA | 8,056 | 96 | 0.9x |
| Lexington, VA | 7,525 | 110 | 1.0x |
