Cost of living in Richmond, VA Livability score 66 · cost-of-living index 98.3 (US = 100)
How Richmond compares Where Richmond falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 98 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 98 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $398k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $398k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $199 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $199 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 5.7% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 5.7% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.76% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.76% Violent crime (per 100k) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k): 200 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 200 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 17.4 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 17.4 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 87° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 87° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 28° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 28° Map of Richmond Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
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Cost of living Metric Value US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 98.3 #130 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 97.1 #121 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.60 #130 of 200 Median household income $80,877 #58 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $45,473 #39 of 200
Economy Metric Value US rank Unemployment rate 4.78% #74 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +3.6% #104 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value US rank Median home price $397,705 #134 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.9× #111 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +2.3% #79 of 200 Price per square foot $199 #110 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 2,000 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,763 #128 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 3,254 Median days on market 6 #5 of 200
Taxes Metric Value US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 12.5% #160 of 200 Combined sales tax 5.73% #12 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 5.75% Capital gains tax 5.75% #130 of 200 High earners No special surtax Effective property tax rate 0.76% #71 of 200 Median property tax paid $2,285 #83 of 200
Healthcare & childcare Metric Value US rank Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,800 #93 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $15,000 #141 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value US rank Annual registration $80 #64 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 3.97% of value (~$1,112/yr) #197 of 200 Emissions testing Required Emissions detail Required in major metro counties DMV & license offices 4 Avg commute to work 25 min #125 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value US rank Electricity 17.4¢/kWh #112 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $156 #112 of 200 Gasoline $3.20/gal #63 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $78 #139 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $103 #97 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $77 #67 of 200
Insurance Metric Value US rank Home insurance (annual) $1,500 #51 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,400 #18 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $700 #61 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 42 #1 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 1,500 #110 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 3,900 #102 of 200 Avg summer high 87°F #94 of 200 Avg winter low 28°F #110 of 200 Annual precipitation 45.5" #129 of 200 Annual snowfall 8.8" #107 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 57% #121 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 7a Frost window 04-10 → 11-01
Safety Metric Value US rank Violent crime (per 100k) 200 #7 of 200 Property crime (per 100k) 1,500 #32 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value US rank Grocery stores 16 #190 of 200 Parks 27 Hiking areas 4 Golf courses 20 Shooting ranges 6 Lakes 4
Permits Metric Value US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 3 #87 of 200 Permit detail Moderate
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts (Google Maps listings) via our own scraper.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.