Cost of Living in Virginia: Cities Where Household Expenses are Highest and Lowest in 2025
What is the cost of living in Virginia? doxo breaks down key insights about Virginia’s household expenses, with a close look into how bills differ between towns and cities across the state.
According to doxo’s The Cost of Bills Index™ (COBI), the average household in Virginia pays $2,223 in monthly expenses. doxoINSIGHTS compares the cost of the ten most common household bills across different regions. This includes Utilities, Cable & Internet, Mobile Phone, Auto Loans, Auto Insurance, Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Alarm & Security, Rent, and Mortgage.
The data sheds light on Virginia’s cost of living through other metrics as well. For example, the “percent of household income” data point shows what percentage of their household income residents spend on bills each month.
By leveraging these tools, residents can gain a clearer understanding of their household expenses and optimize their financial planning.
Virginia ranks as the 12th most expensive state in the US for household bills
According to doxo’s COBI report, Virginia is ranked as the 12th most expensive state in the U.S. for household bills.
At $26,676 per year, Virginia’s household expenses, on average, are 8% higher than the US median of $24,695.
Absolute dollar amounts don’t tell the full story, however. doxo’s “Percentage of Household Income” data provides a more proportional look at bill spending in a particular location. Virginia households spend 27% of their income on bills.
COBI helps consumers understand how much it costs to live in one area as compared to another as it relates to the most common household bills. For COBI, the number 100 represents the national median and then, states, counties and cities are assigned a number, either above or below 100, based on how they compare to the national median. The COBI for Virginia is 108.
- Median Bill Cost per Household: $2,223 per month
- Cost of Bills Index(COBI): 108
- doxoINSIGHTS State Rank: #12
- Percent of Household Income Used for Bills: 27%
- Compared to the National Median: 8% higher
Virginia Household Expenses are 8% Higher Than the National Median
The average Virginia household pays $2,223 per month in the 10 most common household bills. The least expensive of these are alarm and security bills.
On the lowest end of the spectrum, the median monthly payment for alarm and security bills in Virginia is $72, compared to the national median of $74, making it 3% lower than the national median.
Monthly mortgage bills are the most significant of the 10 most common bills for Virginia residents. The median monthly mortgage payment is $1,901, compared to the national median of $1,775, making it 7% more expensive.
Median Virginia Household Bill Spending
| Bill Category | Median Virginia Monthly Bill | National Median Monthly Bill | Virginia Percent +/- National Median ($2,126) |
| Mortgage | $1,901 | $1,775 | 7% higher |
| Rent | $1,564 | $1,453 | 8% higher |
| Auto Loan | $450 | $470 | 4% lower |
| Auto Insurance | $128 | $105 | 22% higher |
| Health Insurance | $58 | $72 | 19% lower |
| Mobile Phone | $93 | $96 | 3% lower |
| Cable & Internet | $134 | $121 | 11% higher |
| Life Insurance | $49 | $60 | 18% lower |
| Alarm & Security | $72 | $74 | 3% lower |
| Total | $2,223 | $2,065 | 8% higher |
*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Fort Belvoir has the highest cost of living in Virginia for household bills
Residents of Fort Belvoir pay the highest household bills in the state of Virginia, at a median of $4,071 per month. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Fort Belvoir is 197, meaning the median cost of bills in this city is 97% higher than the national median.
In proportion to household income, monthly bills in Fort Belvoir make up 48% of the median annual household income of $102,162.
Access detailed infographics about each city or town by clicking on the hyperlinks in the “City” column in the tables below. You can also browse doxoINSIGHTS’ regional bill comparison database to see infographics about more than 4,200 cities and towns across all 50 states in the US.
5 Most Expensive Virginia Cities for Household Bills
| Rank | City | Median Income | Monthly Bill Expenses Per Household | Cost of Bills Index (COBI) – Standard | % +/- Than the National Median | Percent of Household Income Used for Bills |
| 1 | Fort Belvoir | $102,162 | $4,071 | 197 | 97% higher | 48% |
| 2 | Aldie | $202,775 | $3,822 | 185 | 85% higher | 23% |
| 3 | Waterford | $233,777 | $3,767 | 182 | 82% higher | 19% |
| 4 | Fairfax Station | $250,000 | $3,664 | 177 | 77% higher | 18% |
| 5 | Purcellville | $180,663 | $3,619 | 175 | 75% higher | 24% |
*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Broadford has the lowest cost of living in Virginia for household bills
Broadford is the most affordable place in Virginia, with residents paying $756 on average for household bills, accounting for 18% of annual income of $49,309. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Broadford is 37, meaning the median cost of bills in this city is 63% below the national median.
Bishop is the second most affordable city in Virginia, with residents paying $756 per month on average.
Also on the list of the 5 least expensive cities in Virginia are Jamesville ($818), Paint Bank ($822) and Sharps ($878).
5 Most Affordable Virginia Cities for Household Bills
| Rank | City | Median Income | Monthly Bill Expense Per Household | Cost of Bills Index (COBI) – Standard | % +/- Than the National Median | Percent of Household Income Used for Bills |
| 1 | Broadford | $49,309 | $756 | 37 | 63% lower | 18% |
| 2 | Bishop | $26,615 | $756 | 37 | 63% lower | 34% |
| 3 | Jamesville | $51,667 | $818 | 40 | 60% lower | 19% |
| 4 | Paint Bank | $59,115 | $822 | 40 | 60% lower | 17% |
| 5 | Sharps | $63,845 | $878 | 42 | 58% lower | 17% |
*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Some individuals might be considering moving from a more expensive city to a less expensive one. For those making such decisions, doxoINSIGHTS can be a valuable resource. It allows consumers to compare household expenses in Virginia with average bills in various cities and states nationwide.