Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in District of Columbia, DC would need to be about $49,075 in Manassas city, VA, or $925 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
District of Columbia, DC vs Manassas city, VA: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Manassas city, VA is cheaper than District of Columbia, DC.
Moving to Manassas city, VA is estimated to save $1,310 per year.
Cheaper County
Manassas city, VASave about $1,310 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in District of Columbia, DC is about $49,075 in Manassas city, VA.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $3,489 per year. Healthcare saves $2,423 per year.
Housing: $787 lower in Manassas city, VA
Taxes: $60 lower in Manassas city, VA
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $2,423 lower in Manassas city, VA
Food: $981 lower in Manassas city, VA
Transport: $3,489 higher in Manassas city, VA
District of Columbia, DC→Manassas city, VA
Equivalent salary in Manassas city, VA
$49,075
-1.85% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in District of Columbia, DC: $150,381
Median Income in Manassas city, VA: $123,914
Living Index in District of Columbia, DC 47.12%
Living Index in Manassas city, VA 56.12%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from District of Columbia, DC to Manassas 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 Manassas city, VA is estimated to save $1,310 per year. A $50,000 salary in District of Columbia, DC would have similar purchasing power to about $49,075 in Manassas city, VA. The largest savings come from healthcare and food.
This is a -1.85% decrease in modeled annual costs. Healthcare is $2,423 per year lower (-35.12%); Food is $981 per year lower (-18.05%).
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 Manassas 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 56.1% in Manassas city, VA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $787 per year lower in Manassas 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 Manassas city, VA changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $981 per year lower in Manassas city, VA than in District of Columbia, DC. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Manassas city, VA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $3,489 per year higher in Manassas 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 Manassas city, VA.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $2,423 per year lower in Manassas city, VA than in District of Columbia, DC. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Manassas city, VA changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $549 per year lower in Manassas city, VA than in District of Columbia, DC. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Manassas 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 Manassas city, VA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Manassas city, VA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $60 per year lower in Manassas city, VA than in District of Columbia, DC. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Manassas 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 Manassas city, VA.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Manassas city, VA
Annual Increase:
$3,489 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Manassas city, VA.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Manassas city, VA
Annual Savings:
$2,423 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual savings when moving to Manassas city, VA.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -3% lower | |
| Food | -18% lower | |
| Transport | 35% higher | |
| Healthcare | -35% lower | |
| Other Costs | -6% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -0% higher |
In Manassas city, VA, modeled annual costs are $69,543 compared with $70,853 in District of Columbia, DC.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Manassas city, VA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Manassas city, VA and District of Columbia, DC are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
