Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in District of Columbia, DC would need to be about $42,215 in Fredericksburg city, VA, or $7,785 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
District of Columbia, DC vs Fredericksburg city, VA: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Fredericksburg city, VA is cheaper than District of Columbia, DC.
Moving to Fredericksburg city, VA is estimated to save $11,031 per year.
Cheaper County
Fredericksburg city, VASave about $11,031 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in District of Columbia, DC is about $42,215 in Fredericksburg city, VA.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $1,416 per year. Housing saves $4,587 per year.
Housing: $4,587 lower in Fredericksburg city, VA
Taxes: $3,439 lower in Fredericksburg city, VA
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $2,423 lower in Fredericksburg city, VA
Food: $439 lower in Fredericksburg city, VA
Transport: $1,416 higher in Fredericksburg city, VA
District of Columbia, DC→Fredericksburg city, VA
Equivalent salary in Fredericksburg city, VA
$42,215
-15.57% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in District of Columbia, DC: $150,381
Median Income in Fredericksburg city, VA: $130,516
Living Index in District of Columbia, DC 47.12%
Living Index in Fredericksburg city, VA 45.83%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from District of Columbia, DC to Fredericksburg 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 District of Columbia, DC to Fredericksburg city, VA is estimated to save $11,031 per year. A $50,000 salary in District of Columbia, DC would have similar purchasing power to about $42,215 in Fredericksburg city, VA. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -15.57% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $4,587 per year lower (-19.95%); Taxes is $3,439 per year lower (-20.72%).
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 District of Columbia, DC and Fredericksburg city, VA, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 47.1% of median family income in District of Columbia, DC and 45.8% in Fredericksburg city, VA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $4,587 per year lower in Fredericksburg city, VA than in District of Columbia, DC. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Fredericksburg city, VA changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $439 per year lower in Fredericksburg city, VA than in District of Columbia, DC. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Fredericksburg city, VA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,416 per year higher in Fredericksburg city, VA than in District of Columbia, DC. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Fredericksburg city, VA.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $2,423 per year lower in Fredericksburg city, VA than in District of Columbia, DC. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Fredericksburg city, VA changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $1,561 per year lower in Fredericksburg city, VA than in District of Columbia, DC. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Fredericksburg city, VA help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in District of Columbia, DC and Fredericksburg city, VA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Fredericksburg city, VA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $3,439 per year lower in Fredericksburg city, VA than in District of Columbia, DC. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Fredericksburg 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 Fredericksburg city, VA.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Fredericksburg city, VA
Annual Increase:
$1,416 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Fredericksburg city, VA.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Fredericksburg city, VA
Annual Savings:
$4,587 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Fredericksburg city, VA.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -20% lower | |
| Food | -8% lower | |
| Transport | 14% higher | |
| Healthcare | -35% lower | |
| Other Costs | -18% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -21% lower |
In Fredericksburg city, VA, modeled annual costs are $59,822 compared with $70,853 in District of Columbia, DC.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Fredericksburg city, VA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Fredericksburg city, VA and District of Columbia, DC are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
