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Virginia cost of living & income (2026)

Quick answer: Virginia has a cost-of-living index of 99.1 (100 = national baseline), an illustrative estimated annual cost of living of about $49,550, median household income of $92,090, combined average sales tax about 5.75%, and regular gas about $3.701/gal in the June 2026 AAA snapshot used on the hub.

COL index99.1100 = US baseline
Est. annual COL$49,550
Median HH income$92,090
Sales tax (comb.)5.75%
Gas (87 octane)$3.701/galJune 2026 AAA
Largest cityVirginia Beach (453,649)

Taxes & economy

Income tax: Graduated up to 5.75%

Sales tax: 5.3% state (combined avg. ~5.75%)

Major industries: Government/contracting (near DC), defense/military, technology, tourism/history, agriculture

Climate snapshot

Summer high ~87°F (July) · Winter low ~28°F (January)

Culture (context)

Colonial Williamsburg / Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

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What this means for you

What this means for you: a basket priced at 100 on the national baseline is indexed at 99.1 in Virginia. A salary that buys that basket at the baseline would need about 99.1% of that salary to buy the same basket here. That is index math from this snapshot, not a tax-equalized offer and not your rent.

Compare a salary: Virginia vs Texas on the explorer.

How to read this page

  1. Read the quick answer for Virginia's cost-of-living index, estimated annual cost, median income, sales tax, and gas price.
  2. Open the 50-state explorer and compare Virginia with another state. The salary line multiplies pay by the other index divided by this index.
  3. Use the mortgage, rent, and paycheck calculators with your own numbers. This page does not compute a tax return.

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Related states

Similar cost-of-living index in this dataset:

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FAQ

What is Virginia's cost of living index?

Virginia's cost-of-living index is 99.1 (national baseline 100) in this 2026 classroom snapshot.

What is the estimated annual cost of living in Virginia?

The explorer lists an illustrative estimated annual cost of living of about $49,550 for Virginia.

What is median household income in Virginia?

Median household income in Virginia is $92,090 in this dataset.

What is the combined average sales tax rate in Virginia?

The combined average sales tax rate shown for Virginia is 5.75%. State and local rules vary; see the Tax Foundation citation on the hub.

Does Virginia have a state income tax?

State income tax in Virginia: Graduated up to 5.75%.

What was regular gas in Virginia in this snapshot?

87-octane gas is listed at $3.701 per gallon (AAA, June 2026) in the explorer data.

How should a household read Virginia's cost-of-living index?

The index is 99.1 against a US baseline of 100. A salary that buys a basket at the baseline would need about 99.1% of that salary to buy the same basket in Virginia in this snapshot. It is not a tax bill, a rent quote, or financial advice.

Sources: Tax Foundation (sales tax), BEA / ACS (income & COL), AAA gas (June 20, 2026). Educational, not financial, tax, or relocation advice.