Arlington vs Vienna
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Arlington
Vienna
The Verdict
Vienna is 86.4% less expensive than Arlington overall. A household earning $75,000 in Arlington would need approximately $40,244 in Vienna 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 Arlington has the same purchasing power as $40,244 in Vienna.
Conversely, $75,000 in Vienna equals $139,773 in Arlington.
Living in Arlington vs Vienna
Housing Costs
Arlington's housing index of 249 is higher Vienna's 105, translating to median home prices of $740,000 vs $395,000. 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: $2,350/mo in Arlington compared to $1,275/mo in Vienna, a monthly difference of $1,075.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 106 in Arlington and 85 in Vienna. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $504/month in Arlington vs $404/month in Vienna. Vienna offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1200/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Arlington and 98 in Vienna. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Arlington vs $392 in Vienna. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 117 in Arlington and 82 in Vienna. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 35-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $145,000 in Arlington and $48,000 in Vienna. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $88,415 and $54,545 respectively. Arlington residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $3,383/month to housing in Arlington vs $1,120/month in Vienna. In Arlington, median rent of $2,350/mo fits within this budget. In Vienna, median rent of $1,275/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 144 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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