City Comparison

Alexandria vs Sandy

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Alexandria

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

Sandy

Utah
128
Expensive
$630,000
Median Home
$1,725/mo
Median Rent
$111,200
Median Income

The Verdict

13.3%

Living in Sandy costs 13.3% less than Alexandria. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Alexandria, you would need $66,207 in Sandy.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
201
Alexandria
189
Sandy
Groceries
113
Alexandria
100
Sandy
Utilities
97
Alexandria
88
Sandy
Transportation
107
Alexandria
106
Sandy
Healthcare
102
Alexandria
95
Sandy

Salary Equivalence

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

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

Living in Alexandria vs Sandy

Housing Costs

Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Sandy's 189, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $630,000. The $40,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,604 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 Sandy, a monthly difference of $400.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 100 in Sandy. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $475/month in Sandy. Sandy offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $744/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Alexandria and 88 in Sandy. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $352 in Sandy. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 95 in Sandy. 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 $111,200 in Sandy. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $86,875 respectively. Sandy 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 $2,595/month in Sandy. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Sandy, median rent of $1,725/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Groceries, where the gap is 13 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sandy 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 Sandy, based on the cost of living difference.
Alexandria's housing index is 201 with median homes at $590,000, while Sandy's is 189 with median homes at $630,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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