Alexandria, VA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Alexandria, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Alexandria →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Alexandria counts roughly 157,594 residents, and the median household brings in $113,179 annually — +57% relative to the cities in our dataset, putting incomes here above the pack.
In Alexandria, the median home is valued at $655,700 — above the median across the cities we track (+101%) — and typical rent runs $1,983 a month. Factor in mortgage rates and property taxes when sizing up whether buying pencils out.
Buying a typical home in Alexandria would take about 5.8 years of median household income — a high multiple that points to real affordability pressure. Alexandria's home prices climbed 1% over the past year — steady appreciation without signs of overheating. FEMA's National Risk Index puts Alexandria at Relatively Low for overall natural-hazard risk — a relatively favorable factor for insurance costs.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,983/mo in Alexandria would take 21.0% of your income.
$846/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($655,700) would take 37.1% of your income toward principal & interest.
$860/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Alexandria
Median home value is $655,700 and median gross rent is $1,983/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Alexandria City rose 1% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $2,246/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Alexandria's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively Low. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Alexandria reported a violent crime rate of 142.3 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Alexandria
Planning a move to Alexandria? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Alexandria, VA?
- The US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022) puts Alexandria's median home value at $655,700, median rent at $1,983/month, and median household income at $113,179.
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Alexandria?
- A common guideline is that rent should stay under 30% of gross income. With median rent at $1,983/month in Alexandria, that implies an income of about $79,320 to keep housing affordable. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Alexandria.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Alexandria?
- With a median home value of $655,700 and median rent of $1,983/month, renting comfortably in Alexandria takes about $79,320/year (the 30% guideline), while buying at the median price takes roughly $150,021/year in principal-and-interest alone (assumes 20% down, a 30-year fixed loan, and current mortgage rates). The right call depends on how long you plan to stay and your down payment.
- Is Alexandria safe?
- FBI data puts Alexandria's violent crime rate at 142.3 per 100,000 residents for 2025 — a useful benchmark alongside other cities you're weighing.
See the full salary breakdown for Alexandria →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Alexandria's.