Alexandria vs Arlington
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Alexandria
Arlington
The Verdict
Arlington is 51.0% less expensive than Alexandria overall. A household earning $75,000 in Alexandria would need approximately $49,655 in Arlington to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has the same purchasing power as $49,655 in Arlington.
Conversely, $75,000 in Arlington equals $113,281 in Alexandria.
Living in Alexandria vs Arlington
Housing Costs
Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Arlington's 86, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $260,000. The $330,000 difference in home prices means roughly $21,456 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $1,300/mo in Arlington, a monthly difference of $825.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 96 in Arlington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $456/month in Arlington. Arlington offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $972/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Alexandria and 99 in Arlington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $396 in Arlington. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 100 in Arlington. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $119,700 in Alexandria and $60,138 in Arlington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $62,644 respectively. Alexandria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,793/month to housing in Alexandria vs $1,403/month in Arlington. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Arlington, median rent of $1,300/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 115 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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