Moving from Washington, D.C. to Richmond
Your paycheck goes 12.8% further in Richmond than in Washington, D.C. Compare taxes, rent, home prices and the cost of the move.
Equal salary in Richmond: $109,000
Compare any two of 149 U.S. metro areas. All cities
To keep the same lifestyle, you need about $109,000 in Richmond, VA to match $125,000 in Washington, D.C. ($16,000 less), after 2026 taxes and local prices.
Single filer, W-2 salary. Uses Washington, DC and Virginia state income tax; neither city levies a resident income tax.
Washington, D.C. vs Richmond: key facts
- Median rent
- $2,037 → $1,546/mo
- Median home value
- $604,800 → $378,100
- Median household income
- $126,244 → $83,460
- Price level (U.S. = 100)
- 108.9 → 97.9
- Natural hazard risk (FEMA)
- Among the highest → Above average
Washington, D.C. vs Richmond cost of living
The vertical line marks the U.S. average (100).
| Measure | Washington, D.C. | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| Overall price level (U.S. = 100) | 108.9 | 97.9 |
| Median rent | $2,037 | $1,546 |
| Income to rent affordably (30%) | $81,480 | $61,840 |
| Median home value | $604,800 | $378,100 |
| Monthly cost to own (20% down) | $3,753 | $2,333 |
| Income needed to buy | $160,826 | $99,993 |
| Median property tax | $5,430 | $2,681 |
| State income tax on $125,000 | $7,657 | $6,373 |
| Metro population | 6,437,907 | 1,368,219 |
Metro-area figures (Census ACS 2024, BEA 2024). Taxes use each metro's principal state.
Your yearly budget: Washington, D.C. vs Richmond
On a $125,000 salary, taxes, housing, electricity, one car and health insurance for one adult come to $72,877 a year in Washington, D.C. and $63,612 in Richmond if you rent: $9,265 less after the move. If you buy the median home, they come to $93,464 and $73,058 ($20,406 less).
Your yearly budget, before vs after
| Yearly cost | Washington, D.C.Before | RichmondAfter | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income and payroll taxes on $125,000, single filer | $35,953 | $34,670 | -$1,283 |
| Electricity state average bill | $1,359 | $1,785 | +$426 |
| Car insurance one car, state average | $1,677 | $1,114 | -$563 |
| Gas 12,000 miles at 25 mpg | $2,124 | $2,031 | -$93 |
| Health insurance one adult, age 40, own plan before subsidies | $7,320 | $5,460 | -$1,860 |
| If you rent | |||
| Rent median, 12 months | $24,444 | $18,552 | -$5,892 |
| Total if you rent | $72,877 | $63,612 | -$9,265 |
| If you buy the median home (20% down) | |||
| Mortgage payment median home, 20% down, 6.95% | $38,433 | $24,027 | -$14,406 |
| Property tax median home | $5,430 | $2,681 | -$2,749 |
| Homeowners insurance state median, with a mortgage | $1,168 | $1,290 | +$122 |
| Total if you buy | $93,464 | $73,058 | -$20,406 |
Taxes: 2026 federal and state rules, plus the principal city's resident income tax where it has one, standard deduction. Rent, home value and property tax: Census ACS 2024 metro-area medians. Mortgage: Freddie Mac 30-year average (6.95%, week of September 17, 2026).
State figures for the principal state: EIA 2024 average residential power bill, NAIC 2023 auto insurance (average per car), Census ACS 2024 homeowners insurance (median for owners with a mortgage; premiums have risen since), AAA regular gas on September 23, 2026, and the KFF 2026 benchmark silver Marketplace premium. Job-based health coverage usually costs you less, and in 2026 incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level can get a premium tax credit.
Not included: sales tax (combined state and local rates are not in our data yet), food, car payments and other spending.
Child care is not in the totals. Full-time center care for one infant averages $26,193 a year in Washington, D.C. and $16,796 in Richmond (Child Care Aware of America, 2024 state averages).
Who moves from Washington, D.C. to Richmond
About 3,558 households (5,239 people) moved from the Washington, D.C. metro area to the Richmond metro area in 2022–2023, making Richmond the #3 destination for people leaving Washington, D.C. among the 149 metro areas we cover. 2,235 households moved the other way. Their average adjusted gross income was $84,769.
Cost to move from Washington, D.C. to Richmond
| Moving method (2–3 bedrooms) | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Rental truck (DIY) | $310–$600 |
| Moving container | $1,090–$2,030 |
| Full-service movers | $1,830–$4,860 |
At about 110 miles, this move is shorter than the long-distance routes these ranges are modeled on. A move this short is often priced by the hour, so quotes can come in lower.
Natural hazard risk: Washington, D.C. vs Richmond
FEMA's National Risk Index rates the Washington, D.C. area among the highest (score 82.9) and the Richmond area above average (score 65.9), on a 0–100 national percentile scale. Expected yearly losses from natural hazards average $192 vs $215 per resident.
The vertical line marks the middle of U.S. counties (50).
The vertical line marks the middle of U.S. counties (50).
Frequently asked questions
Is Richmond cheaper than Washington, D.C.?
Overall prices in the Richmond area are 10.1% lower than in Washington, D.C. (BEA Regional Price Parities 2024). Median rent is $1,546 vs $2,037 a month, and the median home is $378,100 vs $604,800.
What salary do I need in Richmond to match $100,000 in Washington, D.C.?
About $87,600, after 2026 federal taxes and local prices. Uses Washington, DC and Virginia state income tax.
How much does it cost to move from Washington, D.C. to Richmond?
For a 2–3 bedroom home over about 110 miles: roughly $310–$600 with a rental truck, $1,090–$2,030 with a container, or $1,830–$4,860 with full-service movers. A move this short is often priced by the hour, so quotes can come in lower.
How many people move from Washington, D.C. to Richmond?
IRS county migration data for 2022–2023 show about 3,558 households (5,239 people) moved from the Washington, D.C. metro area to the Richmond metro area, and 2,235 moved the other way.
Related
Where people from Washington, D.C. move
- Washington, D.C. to Baltimore 14,713 households
- Washington, D.C. to New York 7,558 households
- Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles 2,641 households
- Washington, D.C. to Miami 2,452 households
- Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia 2,416 households
- Washington, D.C. to Virginia Beach 2,130 households
- Washington, D.C. to Boston 2,045 households
- Washington, D.C. to Dallas 1,896 households