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

Cost of living in Fairfax city, VA

Part of the Washington Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$4,533/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 24,478 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $2,056 45%
Federal tax $858 19%
Healthcare $480 11%
Groceries $355 8%
State tax $277 6%
Transport $250 6%
Energy $202 4%
Water $55 1%

Rent in Fairfax city

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 Fairfax city

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$132,774
per year
Individual earnings
$62,225
per year
Per capita
$62,800
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Fairfax city

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$677,400
Annual property tax
$6,392

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Fairfax city

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 Fairfax city

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
7.4%

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 Fairfax city

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 Fairfax city

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
27.7 min
Drive alone
57.0%
Public transit
3.8%
Work from home
25.2%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Fairfax city

What it costs to live in Fairfax city each month.

Single person
$4,533
per month
  • Rent $2,056
  • Energy $202
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $355
  • Transport $250
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $858
  • State tax $277
Couple
$6,959
per month
  • Rent $2,314
  • Energy $242
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $588
  • Transport $350
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $1,921
  • State tax $615
Family
$9,700
per month
  • Rent $2,893
  • Energy $303
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $893
  • Transport $450
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $1,921
  • State tax $615

Frequently asked questions about Fairfax city

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Fairfax city?

In Fairfax city, 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 Fairfax city?

In Fairfax city, VA, the average household income is $132,774 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $62,225 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Fairfax city?

The estimated cost of living in Fairfax city, VA is approximately $4,533 per month for a single person, $6,959 for a couple, $9,700 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Fairfax city?

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

Is Fairfax city an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Fairfax city, VA would need approximately $4,533 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $132,774 per year ($11,065 per month). Fairfax city is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Fairfax city?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Fairfax city, VA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 7.4% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Fairfax city?

The average home value in Fairfax city, VA is $677,400, with average annual property taxes of $6,392, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Fairfax city compare to other areas?

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