What is the cost of living in Williamsburg, VA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Williamsburg has an overall cost of living index of 125, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Virginia, Williamsburg has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Virginia's index of 112.
The standard of living in Williamsburg ranks as #86 most affordable out of the 188 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies Williamsburg ranks as the #102 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.
For more reading on life in Williamsburg, check out:
Williamsburg Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Williamsburg. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Williamsburg is 104.
The Groceries index in Williamsburg is 105.
The Health index in Williamsburg is 164.
The Housing index in Williamsburg is 109.
The Transportation index in Williamsburg is 106.
The Utilities index in Williamsburg is 106.
| Living Expense | Williamsburg | Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 125 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 105 | 104 | 100 |
| Health | 164 | 131 | 100 |
| Housing | 109 | 105 | 100 |
| Transportation | 106 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 104 | 100 |
Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Williamsburg, 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 Williamsburg is $464,103.
The Median Rent in Williamsburg is $1,407.
The Median Income in Williamsburg is $75,604.
The Home Value To Income in Williamsburg is 6.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Williamsburg is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Williamsburg | Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $464,103 | $412,467 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,407 | $1,579 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $75,604 | $93,170 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.1x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Williamsburg, VA Costs By Category
Detailed Williamsburg Services costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Williamsburg | 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 Williamsburg Groceries costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Williamsburg | 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 Williamsburg Health costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Williamsburg | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $95.44 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $122.83 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $109.67 | $113.29 |
Detailed Williamsburg Transportation costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Williamsburg | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.27 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Williamsburg Utilities costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Williamsburg | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $227.22 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.33 | $192.25 |
Williamsburg SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Williamsburg
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Williamsburg. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Chesapeake, VA has a cost of living index of 117, 0.9x Williamsburg.
Newport News, VA has a cost of living index of 103, 0.8x Williamsburg.
Suffolk, VA has a cost of living index of 116, 0.9x Williamsburg.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chesapeake, VA | 252,583 | 117 | 0.9x |
| Newport News, VA | 184,216 | 103 | 0.8x |
| Suffolk, VA | 98,796 | 116 | 0.9x |
| Mechanicsville, VA | 38,683 | 112 | 0.9x |
| Meadowbrook, VA | 20,749 | 108 | 0.9x |
| Colonial Heights, VA | 18,352 | 104 | 0.8x |
| Poquoson, VA | 12,639 | 125 | 1.0x |
| Gloucester Point, VA | 11,109 | 110 | 0.9x |
| Rockwood, VA | 10,010 | 114 | 0.9x |
| Smithfield, VA | 8,834 | 116 | 0.9x |
