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

Cost of living in Clarke County, VA

Part of the Washington Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$4,418/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 15,060 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $2,056 47%
Federal tax $714 16%
Healthcare $480 11%
Groceries $355 8%
Transport $320 7%
State tax $236 5%
Energy $202 5%
Water $55 1%

Rent in Clarke 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 Clarke County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$114,185
per year
Individual earnings
$53,695
per year
Per capita
$54,763
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Clarke County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$538,900
Annual property tax
$2,757

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Clarke 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 Clarke County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
5.9%

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 Clarke 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 Clarke County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
33.9 min
Drive alone
71.2%
Public transit
0.1%
Work from home
16.9%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Clarke County

What it costs to live in Clarke County each month.

Single person
$4,418
per month
  • Rent $2,056
  • Energy $202
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $355
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $714
  • State tax $236
Couple
$6,558
per month
  • Rent $2,314
  • Energy $242
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $588
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $1,539
  • State tax $526
Family
$9,299
per month
  • Rent $2,893
  • Energy $303
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $893
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $1,539
  • State tax $526

Frequently asked questions about Clarke County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Clarke County?

In Clarke 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 Clarke County?

In Clarke County, VA, the average household income is $114,185 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $53,695 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Clarke County?

The estimated cost of living in Clarke County, VA is approximately $4,418 per month for a single person, $6,558 for a couple, $9,299 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Clarke County?

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

Is Clarke County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Clarke County, VA would need approximately $4,418 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $114,185 per year ($9,515 per month). Clarke County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Clarke County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Clarke County, VA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 5.9% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Clarke County?

The average home value in Clarke County, VA is $538,900, with average annual property taxes of $2,757, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Clarke County compare to other areas?

You can compare Clarke County, VA with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Clarke 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 Clarke 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