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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $100K salary, 7 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 7 cities in Virginia using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Richm…
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $100K salary, 7 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 7 cities in Virginia using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Richmond comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis. Not even close to the national average.
No sugarcoating: Here's Richmond by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 102. Rent: $1,574/month. Income: $62,671/year. Home price: $361,133. Population: 114,106. The strongest category is Utilities at 94; the most expensive is Healthcare at 105. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $3,852 per year vs. the national median. The practical impact: more room for childcare, savings, or just breathing room.
Quick aside: when housing takes less of your income, the secondary effects are real — less financial stress, more discretionary spending, better local businesses.
None of this exists in a vacuum, though. Here's the state-level backdrop: Virginia averages a 107 cost index, $1,804/mo rent, and $79,954 income across 7 cities. That's $91 less than the national rent average. DC suburbs drive costs; the rest stays affordable — and that context shapes every city in this ranking (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
Look, Bottom line: Richmond leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
#1 Ranked: Richmond — cost index 102, rent $1,574/mo, income $62,671
7 of 7 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K
7 of 7 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
114,106 residents · Virginia
Look, What does daily life actually cost in Richmond? Start with the 30% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is. On the category level, Utilities (index 94) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 105) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $62,671 and homes at $361,133 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons (that's pre-tax, of course).
137,098 residents · Virginia
Here's Hampton by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 98. Rent: $1,587/month. Income: $67,758/year. Home price: $272,161. Population: 137,098. The strongest category is Utilities at 90; the most expensive is Healthcare at 101. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $3,696 per year vs. the national median. This is an advantage that compounds over time.
183,118 residents · Virginia
Newport News comes in at #3. Rent is $1,596 a month. Household income is $66,718. The cost of living index is 99. That's about what we'd expect given the state context.
230,930 residents · Virginia
Here's Norfolk by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 101. Rent: $1,696/month. Income: $64,017/year. Home price: $302,742. Population: 230,930. The strongest category is Utilities at 93; the most expensive is Healthcare at 104. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $2,388 per year vs. the national median. When healthcare costs are this low, the savings ripple across every other category.
453,649 residents · Virginia
Virginia Beach earns its position at #5 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 110 cost index sits 2 points below the national baseline, and the $90,685 median income means purchasing power here is genuinely above average. Homes list at $418,508 — $48,862 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Utilities leads the way at 102, while Housing trails at 126.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $100K salary, 7 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
The race is tight: Richmond, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Virginia Beach are all within 8 points of each other. At this level, differences in rent, taxes, or a single category can sway the decision.
Rent in #1-ranked Richmond has increased from $1,522 to $1,574/mo over the past 12 months — a 3% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond | $1,574 | 19% | 102 | Details |
| 2 | Hampton | $1,587 | 19% | 98 | Details |
| 3 | Newport News | $1,596 | 19% | 99 | Details |
| 4 | Norfolk | $1,696 | 20% | 101 | Details |
| 5 | Virginia Beach | $1,953 | 23% | 110 | Details |
| 6 | Chesapeake | $2,002 | 24% | 111 | Details |
| 7 | Alexandria | $2,223 | 27% | 126 | Details |
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Richmond | 5.75% | 5.77% | 0.75% | $69,547 |
2Hampton | 5.75% | 5.77% | 0.75% | $69,547 |
3Newport News | 5.75% | 5.77% | 0.75% | $69,547 |
4Norfolk | 5.75% | 5.77% | 0.75% | $69,547 |
5Virginia Beach | 5.75% | 5.77% | 0.75% | $69,547 |
6Chesapeake | 5.75% | 5.77% | 0.75% | $69,547 |
7Alexandria | 5.75% | 5.77% | 0.75% | $69,547 |
Richmond ranks #1 in Virginia for this analysis with a cost index of 102 and median income of $62,671.
Yes. On a $100K salary in Richmond, rent would consume about 19% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Richmond (ranked #1) has a cost index of 102 and rent of $1,574/mo, while Alexandria (ranked #7) has a cost index of 126 and rent of $2,223/mo — a 24-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Richmond is $1,574/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $321 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 5.75% state income tax, estimated take-home on $100K in Richmond is approximately $69,547/year ($5,796/month). After median rent of $1,574/month, you'd have roughly $50,659/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Richmond is $361,133, which is 5.8× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. The national median home price is $467,370.
Virginia has a 5.75% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 5.77%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.75%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.