Cost of living index

Richmond, VA

97.9 / 100

Living in Richmond, VA is 2.1% cheaper than the US average — the #115 of 387 highest nationally.

Median rent: $1,388/mo

Median home value: $325,800

Figures — including the cost index, median rent, and median home value — cover the wider Richmond, VA metropolitan area, not individual neighbourhoods or city boundaries.

Winter
50° / 30°F
(10° / -1°C)
9.3 in precip
Spring
69° / 46°F
(21° / 8°C)
11.2 in precip
Summer
88° / 67°F
(31° / 19°C)
13.9 in precip
Fall
71° / 50°F
(22° / 10°C)
11.1 in precip

30-year climate normals (1991–2020) from RICHMOND INTL AP, via NOAA.

The Richmond, VA metro area has an overall price level of 97.9 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 2.1% lower than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 99.1 it is 0.9% below the national average. Housing rents are often one of the largest sources of difference between metro areas, so this figure can have a significant impact when comparing locations.

Overall#115 of 387
97.9
Goods#115 of 387
96.8
Housing rents#96 of 387
99.1
Utilities#182 of 387
89.2
Other services#217 of 387
98.6

Richmond, VA is moved down the most by utilities, at 89.2 vs a US average of 100, while the closest to average is housing rents.

Browse Virginia →See the cheapest and most expensive US metros →

Figures on this page come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities dataset, 2024 — the most recent year published. An index of 100 marks the national average; a metro above 100 has higher prices than a typical US metro, below 100 lower. Median rent and median home value are from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates, and seasonal weather is from NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals. These are regional figures only, not a complete personal budget — they don’t account for individual spending habits, taxes, or household circumstances. See the full methodology for how the index and salary-equivalent estimates are calculated.

Compare My City is an independent project and is not operated by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Census Bureau, or NOAA.

Is Richmond, VA an expensive place to live?

Richmond, VA has an overall cost-of-living index of 97.9, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 2.1% cheaper than the country as a whole.

Is housing expensive in Richmond, VA?

Housing rents in Richmond, VA score 99.1 against a US average of 100 — roughly 0.9% below average. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

How does Richmond, VA compare to the US average cost of living?

Overall prices in Richmond, VA sit at 97.9 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 99.1. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.