Moving from Washington to Richmond
A typical worker keeps $2,999 more a year in Washington than in Richmond, after taxes, rent and everyday costs. To keep the same as a typical Washington salary of $71,060, you'd need about $55,500 in Richmond.
What your job keeps in each city
Pick a job to compare local pay, or enter one salary to see what the move alone changes.
A typical worker keeps $2,999 more a year in Washington than in Richmond.
- Typical salary
- $71,060
- Federal income tax
- −$6,803
- Payroll taxes
- −$5,436
- State income tax
- −$3,172
- Rent, 1-bedroom
- −$28,416
- Everyday costs
- −$18,777
a year, or $705 a month
- Typical salary
- $51,460
- Federal income tax
- −$3,995
- Payroll taxes
- −$3,937
- State income tax
- −$2,145
- Rent, 1-bedroom
- −$18,708
- Everyday costs
- −$17,218
a year, or $455 a month
Pay: BLS OEWS metro estimates. Rent: HUD FY2027. Taxes: 2026 federal, state and local schedules, single filer.
Change cities or job: compare any two cities or states at three pay levels.
At a glance
A typical worker in each city: where the money goes, pay, costs and price levels. The tables on this page have every figure.
Cost of living side by side
Monthly costs for one person. Green means the move saves money; red means it costs more.
| Washington | Richmond | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (US = 100)10.1% cheaper | 108.9 | 97.9 |
| Rent, studio$771 less | $2,269 | $1,498 |
| Rent, 1-bedroom$809 less | $2,368 | $1,559 |
| Rent, 2-bedroom$920 less | $2,619 | $1,699 |
| Food$40 less | $518 | $478 |
| Transportation$31 less | $409 | $378 |
| Healthcare$13 less | $360 | $347 |
| Utilities$46 less | $278 | $232 |
| Monthly total, 1-bedroom$939 less | $3,933 | $2,994 |
Salaries
Median pay for the same job in each metro, and how the move changes what you keep: the typical worker and the 10 jobs we cover with the most workers in the Richmond, VA area. The calculator above has all 40.
| Job | Washington | Richmond |
|---|---|---|
| Typical worker$2,999 less | $71,060 | $51,460 |
| Registered nurse$6,038 more | $102,710 | $93,580 |
| Teacher$632 less | $79,249 | $61,555 |
| Electrician$1,271 more | $75,930 | $61,350 |
| Accountant$345 more | $102,140 | $84,220 |
| Software engineer$906 less | $154,930 | $132,120 |
| Police officer$2,701 less | $84,000 | $62,720 |
| Truck driver$9,866 more | $59,820 | $58,190 |
| Nursing assistant$8,785 more | $45,730 | $42,720 |
| Lawyer$17,657 less | $195,190 | $144,910 |
| Project manager$3,349 less | $127,030 | $102,170 |
Taxes
Taxes on the same salary, $71,060 (a typical Washington wage), in each city. Single filer, 2026.
| Washington | Richmond | |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income taxNo change | $6,803 | $6,803 |
| Payroll taxesNo change | $5,436 | $5,436 |
| State income tax$100 more | $3,172 | $3,272 |
| Local income taxNo change | $0 | $0 |
| Total$99 more | $15,412 | $15,511 |
Living there
Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
| Washington | Richmond | |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income$46,317 less | $109,707 | $63,390 |
| Median home value$355,500 less | $733,400 | $377,900 |
| Unemployment rate1.1 pts lower | 5.6% | 4.6% |
| Working from home5.9 pts lower | 22.9% | 16.9% |
Moving to Richmond
People also compare
Questions people ask
Is it cheaper to live in Richmond than Washington?
Yes: prices in the Richmond area are 2% below the US average, against 9% above the US average in the Washington area (BEA, 2024). A 1-bedroom rents for $1,559 a month in Richmond and $2,368 in Washington.
How much more is rent in Washington?
HUD's FY2027 fair market rent for a 1-bedroom is $809 a month (51.9%) higher in Washington: $1,559 in Richmond against $2,368 in Washington.
How much do I need to earn in Richmond to keep the same as in Washington?
A typical worker in Washington earns $71,060. To keep the same amount after taxes, a 1-bedroom rent and everyday costs, you'd need about $55,500 in Richmond.
Will I pay more tax in Richmond?
Virginia taxes wages, and District of Columbia taxes wages. On a typical Washington salary of $71,060, total income and payroll taxes come to $15,511 in Richmond and $15,412 in Washington.
Do people keep more money in Richmond or Washington?
A typical worker keeps $2,999 more a year in Washington than in Richmond: $5,457 in Richmond against $8,456 in Washington, after taxes, rent and everyday costs.
Sources and method
Everyday costs: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2024 (one-person households) × CPI-U to August 2026 × BEA Regional Price Parities 2024.
- Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 population estimates
- Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates
- BLS OEWS May 2025, metropolitan area estimates
- HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents, FY2027
- BLS Consumer Expenditure Surveys 2024, Table 1400 (size of consumer unit)
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U)
- BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2024
- FCC National Broadband Map, fixed broadband availability (data as of December 31, 2025, released 2026-09-29)
- FMCSA Carrier - All With History (operating authority and insurance)
Data compiled October 13, 2026. How we calculate