What is the cost of living in South Boston, VA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, South Boston has an overall cost of living index of 95, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Virginia, South Boston has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than Virginia's index of 112.
The standard of living in South Boston ranks as #15 most affordable out of the 188 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies South Boston ranks as the #173 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.
For more reading on life in South Boston, check out:
South Boston Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in South Boston. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in South Boston is 103.
The Groceries index in South Boston is 106.
The Health index in South Boston is 70.
The Housing index in South Boston is 105.
The Transportation index in South Boston is 101.
The Utilities index in South Boston is 103.
| Living Expense | South Boston | Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 95 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 106 | 104 | 100 |
| Health | 70 | 131 | 100 |
| Housing | 105 | 105 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 103 | 104 | 100 |
South Boston 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 South Boston Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
South Boston, 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 South Boston is $149,171.
The Median Rent in South Boston is $760.
The Median Income in South Boston is $44,052.
The Home Value To Income in South Boston is 3.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in South Boston is 0.21x.
| Statistic | South Boston | Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $149,171 | $412,467 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $760 | $1,579 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $44,052 | $93,170 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.4x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
South Boston, VA Costs By Category
Detailed South Boston Services costs vs. Virginia
| Item | South Boston | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.21 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.37 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $17.53 | $18 |
| Haircut | $18.48 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $46.55 | $45.56 |
Detailed South Boston Groceries costs vs. Virginia
| Item | South Boston | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.07 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.35 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.58 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.99 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.82 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.65 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.68 | $3.7 |
Detailed South Boston Health costs vs. Virginia
| Item | South Boston | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $147.06 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $105.73 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $103.75 | $113.29 |
Detailed South Boston Transportation costs vs. Virginia
| Item | South Boston | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.28 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $44.5 | $59.92 |
Detailed South Boston Utilities costs vs. Virginia
| Item | South Boston | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $179.79 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.37 | $192.25 |
South Boston SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around South Boston
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around South Boston. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Lynchburg, VA has a cost of living index of 102, 1.1x South Boston.
Danville, VA has a cost of living index of 88, 0.9x South Boston.
Mebane, NC has a cost of living index of 103, 1.1x South Boston.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. South Boston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lynchburg, VA | 79,497 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Danville, VA | 42,214 | 88 | 0.9x |
| Mebane, NC | 19,538 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Henderson, NC | 14,885 | 86 | 0.9x |
| Reidsville, NC | 14,585 | 88 | 0.9x |
| Timberlake, VA | 12,725 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Hillsborough, NC | 9,724 | 114 | 1.2x |
| Oxford, NC | 8,914 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Roxboro, NC | 8,182 | 89 | 0.9x |
| Butner, NC | 8,065 | 99 | 1.0x |
