Cost of Living in Harrisonburg, VA

The cost of living in Harrisonburg, VA is 6.0% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Harrisonburg is 7.8% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $839 – $1,971. You can expect to pay 6.2% less for groceries, 0.1% more for utilities, and 27.2% less for transportation.

-6.0%

Overall Cost of Living vs. National Average

-7.8%

Housing Cost vs. National Average

$839 - $1,971

Most Common Rent Range

Cost of Living Summary in Harrisonburg, VA by Household Type

The cost of living in Harrisonburg for a renter is 11.6% lower than the national average. If you are a renter, you can expect to pay around $3,991/month to cover basic household expenses. The following categories represent a breakdown of average monthly spending. Costs may vary based on location or market conditions.

Groceries $587 per month -7.4% lower than US avg.
Housing $1,587 per month -18.1% lower than US avg.
Utilities $377 per month +1.6% higher than US avg.
Transportation $333 per month -24.1% lower than US avg.
Healthcare $117 per month -17.0% lower than US avg.
Goods & Services $990 per month -0.1% lower than US avg.

The cost of living in Harrisonburg for a home owner is 3.1% lower than the national average. If you are a home owner, you can expect to pay around $7,719/month to cover basic household expenses. The following categories represent a breakdown of average monthly spending. Costs may vary based on location or market conditions.

Groceries $1,171 per month -7.1% lower than US avg.
Housing $2,230 per month +4.0% higher than US avg.
Utilities $832 per month +1.8% higher than US avg.
Transportation $723 per month -24.1% lower than US avg.
Healthcare $331 per month -14.5% lower than US avg.
Goods & Services $2,432 per month +1.2% higher than US avg.

The cost of living in Harrisonburg for a married couple with children under 6 is 6.0% lower than the national average. If you are a married couple with children under 6, you can expect to pay around $6,761/month to cover basic household expenses. The following categories represent a breakdown of average monthly spending. Costs may vary based on location or market conditions.

Groceries $1,138 per month -7.2% lower than US avg.
Housing $1,820 per month -5.0% lower than US avg.
Utilities $797 per month +1.7% higher than US avg.
Transportation $686 per month -24.1% lower than US avg.
Healthcare $261 per month -17.4% lower than US avg.
Goods & Services $2,059 per month +0.8% higher than US avg.

The cost of living in Harrisonburg for a married couple with children 6-17 is 5.0% lower than the national average. If you are a married couple with children 6-17, you can expect to pay around $8,034/month to cover basic household expenses. The following categories represent a breakdown of average monthly spending. Costs may vary based on location or market conditions.

Groceries $1,338 per month -7.1% lower than US avg.
Housing $2,141 per month -3.6% lower than US avg.
Utilities $868 per month +1.5% higher than US avg.
Transportation $773 per month -24.0% lower than US avg.
Healthcare $383 per month -13.2% lower than US avg.
Goods & Services $2,531 per month +1.9% higher than US avg.

Average Housing Cost in Harrisonburg, VA vs. National Average

Cost of Renting

The average rent in Harrisonburg, VA is $1,165, which is 25.0% lower than the national average.

Start your search for an apartment in Harrisonburg, VA, and view the average rent.

Harrisonburg, VA
National Average
Apartment
$1,165/month
$1,553/month
-25%

Cost of Buying a Home

The average listing price for a home in Harrisonburg, VA is $468,257, which is 6.0% lower than the national average.

Harrisonburg, VA
National Average
Average House Cost
$468,257
$498,033
-6%

Cost of Living Details for Harrisonburg, VA

Is Harrisonburg expensive to live in?

Harrisonburg’s overall cost of living is 6.0% lower than the national average, making it a less expensive city compared to other US locations.

What salary do I need to live comfortably in Harrisonburg, VA?

To live comfortably in Harrisonburg, VA, as a single adult with no dependents, you should aim for a salary around $47,892 before taxes. Expect to pay around $19,044/year for housing, $7,044/year for groceries, and $11,880 for goods and services. These costs will vary based on family size and location.

Groceries

The average cost of groceries in Harrisonburg, VA is 6.2% lower than the national average.

Harrisonburg, VA
National Average
Steak
$12.84
$14.82
-13%
Ground Beef
$5.98
$6.44
-7%
Sausage
$4.87
$4.94
-1%
Frying Chicken
$1.64
$1.56
+5%

Utilities

The average cost of utilities in Harrisonburg, VA is 0.1% higher than the national average.

Harrisonburg, VA
National Average
Energy
$208.39
$200.07
+4%
Phone
$189.03
$193.54
-2%

Healthcare

The average cost of healthcare in Harrisonburg, VA is 3.9% higher than the national average.

Harrisonburg, VA
National Average
Optometrist Visit
$133.98
$128.65
+4%
Doctor Visit
$172.61
$140.46
+23%
Dentist Visit
$108.06
$115.50
-6%
Ibuprofen
$9.55
$10.83
-12%

Transportation

The average cost of transportation in Harrisonburg, VA is 27.2% lower than the national average.

Harrisonburg, VA
National Average
Gasoline (1 gallon)
$2.61
$3.39
-23%
Tire Balance
$44.51
$60.97
-27%

Goods & Services

The average cost of good and services in Harrisonburg, VA is 0.5% lower than the national average.

Harrisonburg, VA
National Average
Toothpaste
$3.41
$4.04
-16%
Shampoo
$1.45
$1.43
+1%
Dry Cleaning
$15.13
$16.69
-9%
Man Dress Shirt
$34.33
$37.60
-9%

Explore Apartments for Rent in Harrisonburg, VA

Houses for Rent in Harrisonburg, VA

Explore Cost of Living in Popular Cities

What is a cost of living index?

A cost of living index is a numerical tool designed to compare expenses in different locations. It tracks the prices of essential goods and services, such as housing, food, utilities, transportation, and healthcare and assigns a score to each region. This index helps renters understand how costly one city is compared to another, helping with financial planning and decision-making before moving to a new place.

How is cost of living calculated?

Cost of living is calculated by looking at the prices of a variety of recurring expenses that people typically need. This can include housing, food, healthcare, and other everyday expenses. Each of these categories is weighted based on its importance in a typical budget. The prices are then compared across different locations to determine how much more or less expensive it is to live in one place compared to another.

Housing

Housing refers to the money you spend on where you live. This includes paying rent if you live in an apartment or making mortgage payments if you own a home.

Food and Groceries

Food and groceries cover the cost of buying food and everyday items like fruits, vegetables, snacks, and drinks. It's all the food you eat at home and the basic supplies you need to keep your house running smoothly.

Utilities

Utilities are the basic services that keep your home comfortable and functional. This includes bills for electricity, water, and internet and phone services.

Healthcare

Healthcare includes the expenses for medical needs. This means the cost of seeing doctors and dentists, buying medicine, and paying for related healthcare services.

Transportation

Transportation costs cover the expenses involved in commuting and travel, including costs associated with personal vehicle upkeep.

Goods & Services

Goods and services cover other everyday expenses that you have. This includes buying clothes, paying for entertainment like movies or sports, and other services you might use, such as haircuts or gym memberships. These are the things you spend money on outside of basic necessities.

How to interpret your results

Knowing whether you’ll save or spend more on expenses in a new city can help you with budgeting. There are a few practical applications of this knowledge. If you're thinking of moving to a more expensive area, you may need to adjust your spending. A region with particularly high rent may encourage you to allocate more of your budget toward housing and less toward entertainment and restaurants, for example. A region with a lower cost of living overall means you may be able to increase your spending in certain areas.

Calculating your estimated cost of living in a new city helps you plan your budget accordingly. Play around with numbers to find a balance between essential spending and disposable income.

Learn More with Helpful Articles

Avoid renter's remorse - know what to look for in your next apartment.

Save money and start fresh using these tips and tricks.

It's time to break down your budget and calculate costs.

Concrete jungle or small-town suburb? Your new home awaits.

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in November 2024.