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Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

Cost of living in Arlington County, VA

Part of the Washington Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$5,202/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 235,463 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $2,056 40%
Federal tax $1,502 29%
Healthcare $480 9%
State tax $402 8%
Groceries $355 7%
Energy $202 4%
Transport $150 3%
Water $55 1%

Rent in Arlington County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$2,012
per month
1 bedroom
$2,056
per month
2 bedroom
$2,314
per month
3 bedroom
$2,893
per month
4 bedroom
$3,413
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Arlington County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$140,160
per year
Individual earnings
$88,306
per year
Per capita
$88,024
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Arlington County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$864,800
Annual property tax
$7,774

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Arlington County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$153
per month · 14.6¢/kWh
Natural gas
$49
per month
Annual total
$2,424
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Arlington County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
5.3%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Arlington County

State and local tax rates for Virginia.

State income tax
5.8%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
5.3%
Combined sales tax
5.8%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Arlington County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
26.6 min
Drive alone
39.7%
Public transit
15.9%
Work from home
31.5%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Arlington County

What it costs to live in Arlington County each month.

Single person
$5,202
per month
  • Rent $2,056
  • Energy $202
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $355
  • Transport $150
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $1,502
  • State tax $402
Couple
$7,026
per month
  • Rent $2,314
  • Energy $242
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $588
  • Transport $200
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $2,103
  • State tax $650
Family
$9,747
per month
  • Rent $2,893
  • Energy $303
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $893
  • Transport $280
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $2,103
  • State tax $650

Frequently asked questions about Arlington County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Arlington County?

In Arlington County, VA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $2,056 per month, a two-bedroom averages $2,314 per month, a three-bedroom averages $2,893 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Arlington County?

In Arlington County, VA, the average household income is $140,160 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $88,306 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Arlington County?

The estimated cost of living in Arlington County, VA is approximately $5,202 per month for a single person, $7,026 for a couple, $9,747 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Arlington County?

The combined sales tax rate in Arlington County, VA is 5.75%, which includes the Virginia state rate of 5.30% plus an average local rate of 0.45%.

Is Arlington County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Arlington County, VA would need approximately $5,202 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $140,160 per year ($11,680 per month). Arlington County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Arlington County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Arlington County, VA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 5.3% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Arlington County?

The average home value in Arlington County, VA is $864,800, with average annual property taxes of $7,774, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Arlington County compare to other areas?

You can compare Arlington County, VA with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Arlington County is in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area.

Other counties in Virginia

Browse the full list of counties in Virginia, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Virginia

Compare Arlington County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources