Alexandria vs Lexington
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Alexandria
Lexington
The Verdict
Lexington is 55.9% less expensive than Alexandria overall. A household earning $75,000 in Alexandria would need approximately $48,103 in Lexington 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 $48,103 in Lexington.
Conversely, $75,000 in Lexington equals $116,935 in Alexandria.
Living in Alexandria vs Lexington
Housing Costs
Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Lexington's 82, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $245,000. The $345,000 difference in home prices means roughly $22,428 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $1,200/mo in Lexington, a monthly difference of $925.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 96 in Lexington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $456/month in Lexington. Lexington 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 91 in Lexington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $364 in Lexington. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 94 in Lexington. 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 $55,648 in Lexington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $59,837 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 $1,298/month in Lexington. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Lexington, median rent of $1,200/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 119 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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