Alexandria vs Medford
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Alexandria
Medford
The Verdict
Living in Medford costs 36.8% less than Alexandria. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Alexandria, you would need $54,828 in Medford.
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 $54,828 in Medford.
Conversely, $75,000 in Medford equals $102,594 in Alexandria.
Living in Alexandria vs Medford
Housing Costs
Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Medford's 139, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $406,000. The $184,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,964 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $1,375/mo in Medford, a monthly difference of $750.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 108 in Medford. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $513/month in Medford. 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 97 in Medford. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $388 in Medford. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 100 in Medford. 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 $73,200 in Medford. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $69,057 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 $1,708/month in Medford. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Medford, median rent of $1,375/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 62 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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