City Comparison

Alexandria vs Hillsboro

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Alexandria

Virginia
145
Expensive
$590,000
Median Home
$2,125/mo
Median Rent
$119,700
Median Income

Hillsboro

Oregon
128
Expensive
$533,000
Median Home
$1,725/mo
Median Rent
$106,700
Median Income

The Verdict

13.3%

Hillsboro is 13.3% less expensive than Alexandria overall. A household earning $75,000 in Alexandria would need approximately $66,207 in Hillsboro to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
201
Alexandria
175
Hillsboro
Groceries
113
Alexandria
108
Hillsboro
Utilities
97
Alexandria
96
Hillsboro
Transportation
107
Alexandria
126
Hillsboro
Healthcare
102
Alexandria
103
Hillsboro

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has the same purchasing power as $66,207 in Hillsboro.

Conversely, $75,000 in Hillsboro equals $84,961 in Alexandria.

Living in Alexandria vs Hillsboro

Housing Costs

Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Hillsboro's 175, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $533,000. The $57,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,708 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $1,725/mo in Hillsboro, a monthly difference of $400.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 108 in Hillsboro. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $513/month in Hillsboro. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Alexandria and 96 in Hillsboro. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $384 in Hillsboro. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 103 in Hillsboro. 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 $106,700 in Hillsboro. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $83,359 respectively. Hillsboro residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,793/month to housing in Alexandria vs $2,490/month in Hillsboro. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Hillsboro, median rent of $1,725/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 26 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hillsboro is 13.3% more affordable overall with an index of 128 vs 145.
A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $66,207 in Hillsboro, based on the cost of living difference.
Alexandria's housing index is 201 with median homes at $590,000, while Hillsboro's is 175 with median homes at $533,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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