Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Fairfax County, VA would need to be about $34,770 in Hampton city, VA, or $15,230 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Fairfax County, VA vs Hampton city, VA: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Hampton city, VA is cheaper than Fairfax County, VA.
Moving to Hampton city, VA is estimated to save $24,002 per year.
Cheaper County
Hampton city, VASave about $24,002 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Fairfax County, VA is about $34,770 in Hampton city, VA.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $123 per year. Housing saves $10,285 per year.
Housing: $10,285 lower in Hampton city, VA
Taxes: $8,346 lower in Hampton city, VA
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $123 higher in Hampton city, VA
Food: $1,004 lower in Hampton city, VA
Transport: $986 lower in Hampton city, VA
Fairfax County, VA→Hampton city, VA
Equivalent salary in Hampton city, VA
$34,770
-30.46% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Fairfax County, VA: $178,683
Median Income in Hampton city, VA: $83,915
Living Index in Fairfax County, VA 44.09%
Living Index in Hampton city, VA 65.29%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Fairfax County, VA to Hampton 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 Fairfax County, VA to Hampton city, VA is estimated to save $24,002 per year. A $50,000 salary in Fairfax County, VA would have similar purchasing power to about $34,770 in Hampton city, VA. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -30.46% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $10,285 per year lower (-38.11%); Taxes is $8,346 per year lower (-42.13%).
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 Fairfax County, VA and Hampton city, VA, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 44.1% of median family income in Fairfax County, VA and 65.3% in Hampton city, VA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $10,285 per year lower in Hampton city, VA than in Fairfax County, VA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Hampton city, VA changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $1,004 per year lower in Hampton city, VA than in Fairfax County, VA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Hampton city, VA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $986 per year lower in Hampton city, VA than in Fairfax 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 Hampton city, VA.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $123 per year higher in Hampton city, VA than in Fairfax County, VA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Hampton city, VA changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $3,505 per year lower in Hampton city, VA than in Fairfax County, VA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Hampton city, VA help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Fairfax County, VA and Hampton city, VA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Hampton city, VA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $8,346 per year lower in Hampton city, VA than in Fairfax County, VA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Hampton 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 Hampton city, VA.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Hampton city, VA
Annual Increase:
$123 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Hampton city, VA.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Hampton city, VA
Annual Savings:
$10,285 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Hampton city, VA.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -38% lower | |
| Food | -19% lower | |
| Transport | -8% lower | |
| Healthcare | 3% higher | |
| Other Costs | -35% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -42% lower |
In Hampton city, VA, modeled annual costs are $54,784 compared with $78,786 in Fairfax County, VA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Hampton city, VA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Hampton city, VA and Fairfax County, VA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
