Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Arlington County, VA would need to be about $35,965 in Richmond city, VA, or $14,035 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Arlington County, VA vs Richmond city, VA: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Richmond city, VA is cheaper than Arlington County, VA.
Moving to Richmond city, VA is estimated to save $21,762 per year.
Cheaper County
Richmond city, VASave about $21,762 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Arlington County, VA is about $35,965 in Richmond city, VA.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $385 per year. Housing saves $10,749 per year.
Housing: $10,749 lower in Richmond city, VA
Taxes: $7,570 lower in Richmond city, VA
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $189 higher in Richmond city, VA
Food: $520 lower in Richmond city, VA
Transport: $385 higher in Richmond city, VA
Arlington County, VA→Richmond city, VA
Equivalent salary in Richmond city, VA
$35,965
-28.07% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Arlington County, VA: $194,878
Median Income in Richmond city, VA: $84,119
Living Index in Arlington County, VA 39.78%
Living Index in Richmond city, VA 66.28%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Arlington County, VA to Richmond city, VA.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Cost of Living Breakdown by Category
Summary
Moving from Arlington County, VA to Richmond city, VA is estimated to save $21,762 per year. A $50,000 salary in Arlington County, VA would have similar purchasing power to about $35,965 in Richmond city, VA. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -28.07% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $10,749 per year lower (-39.04%); Taxes is $7,570 per year lower (-39.11%).
Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.
Why this comparison matters
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Arlington County, VA and Richmond city, VA, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 39.8% of median family income in Arlington County, VA and 66.3% in Richmond city, VA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $10,749 per year lower in Richmond city, VA than in Arlington County, VA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Richmond city, VA changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $520 per year lower in Richmond city, VA than in Arlington County, VA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Richmond city, VA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $385 per year higher in Richmond city, VA than in Arlington County, VA. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Richmond city, VA.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $189 per year higher in Richmond city, VA than in Arlington County, VA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Richmond city, VA changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $3,499 per year lower in Richmond city, VA than in Arlington County, VA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Richmond city, VA help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Arlington County, VA and Richmond city, VA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Richmond city, VA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $7,570 per year lower in Richmond city, VA than in Arlington County, VA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Richmond city, VA matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
What changed the most?
The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Richmond city, VA.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Richmond city, VA
Annual Increase:
$385 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Richmond city, VA.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Richmond city, VA
Annual Savings:
$10,749 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Richmond city, VA.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -39% lower | |
| Food | -9% lower | |
| Transport | 4% higher | |
| Healthcare | 4% higher | |
| Other Costs | -34% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -39% lower |
In Richmond city, VA, modeled annual costs are $55,755 compared with $77,517 in Arlington County, VA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Richmond city, VA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Richmond city, VA and Arlington County, VA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
