Cost of living in Arlington, Virginia: rent and home prices
In Arlington, Virginia, the cost of living sits 8.9% above the US average. For 2024, BEA put the RPP for the metro area of Washington, DC at 108.9, the US at 100, and housing alone at 151.1.
- Level of prices
- 108.9US = 100, BEA 2024
- Price level for housing
- 151.1 for rents; US = 100.
Cost of living index for Arlington, Virginia
A regional price parity measures the cost of one basket of goods and services in a place against the US average, which is set at 100. Arlington, Virginia lies within the metro area of Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, and BEA prices the whole area as one. Housing (rents) differs most from the US average, standing at 151.1, or 51.1% above the US.
| Price level, US = 100 | Washington, DC metro | Virginia | Metro against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 108.9 | 101.1 | +8.9% |
| Goods | 104.8 | 100.4 | +4.8% |
| Housing (rents) | 151.1 | 106.8 | +51.1% |
| Utilities | 106.7 | 92.2 | +6.7% |
| Other services | 102.3 | 100.2 | +2.3% |
Regional price parities for metro areas and states (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024). BEA regional price parities
Arlington, Virginia rent prices
At $2,680 each month, the typical asking rent in Arlington, Virginia comes from the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI), which measures rent on homes listed now. It is +1.1% on a year. In the US, that figure is $1,932. Census median gross rent comes to $2,347, and it counts every renting household, not only new leases. Asking rent for one year equals 24% of the median household income.
| Rent | Arlington, Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical asking rent, Zillow ZORI | $2,680 | $1,932 |
| Asking rent, 12-month change | +1.1% | |
| Median gross rent, Census ACS 2024 | $2,347 | $1,487 |
| Asking rent for a year, as a share of median income | 24% | 28% |
One-year estimates from the Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024; Zillow Observed Rent Index.
Arlington, Virginia home prices
In September 2026, a typical home in Arlington, Virginia carried a value of $801,809, according to ZHVI (Zillow Home Value Index). The index measures the value of a home in the middle of the market. A year-on-year change of +1.3%, set beside a US value of $366,157. The price equals 6.0 years of median household income, compared with 4.5 for the US.
| Home prices | Arlington, Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $801,809 | $366,157 |
| 12-month change | +1.3% | +1.2% |
| 10-year change | +38.9% | +77.4% |
| Price to income (years of median income) | 6.0 | 4.5 |
| Price to rent (years of asking rent) | 24.9 | 15.8 |
Days on market, a forecast, and the price chart since 2000: Arlington, Virginia housing market.
Living in Arlington, Virginia: the salary you need
The salary needed in Arlington, Virginia depends on two questions: what you earn and where you live. It buys what your pay buys now.
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Cost of living in Arlington, Virginia compared with other cities
| City | Level of prices | Housing | The typical rent | Value of a typical home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington, Virginia | 108.9 | 151.1 | $2,680 | $801,809 |
| Virginia Beach | 97.9 | 99.8 | $2,098 | $424,785 |
| Richmond | 97.9 | 99.1 | $1,628 | $361,844 |
| Norfolk | 97.9 | 99.8 | $1,749 | $310,673 |
| Alexandria | 108.9 | 151.1 | $2,275 | $662,843 |
| New York City | 112.6 | 148.6 | $4,089 | $825,854 |
| Los Angeles | 113.6 | 170.4 | $2,772 | $927,891 |
| Chicago | 103.6 | 112.0 | $2,311 | $334,108 |
| Houston | 98.6 | 104.5 | $1,544 | $259,465 |
For price levels, BEA regional price parities from 2024, with US = 100. Rent data: Zillow ZORI. Source for home values: Zillow ZHVI, September 2026.
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