Sterling, VA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

Cost Of Living In Sterling, VA Summary

Cost of living in Sterling research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Sterling is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Virginia, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Sterling is 132, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Sterling is 1.3x higher than the national average.

  • Sterling ranks as the #109 cheapest in Virginia out of 186.

  • Sterling ranks as the #5,326 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Sterling is $403,700.

  • The median income in Sterling is $110,915.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
132
Sterling's Overall Cost Of Living
1.3x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Sterling, VA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Sterling has an overall cost of living index of 132, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Virginia, Sterling has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than Virginia's index of 102.

The standard of living in Sterling ranks as #109 most affordable out of the 186 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies Sterling ranks as the #77 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.

For more reading on life in Sterling, check out:

109 out of 186
In Virginia
5,326 out of 6,412
In America

Sterling Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Sterling. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Sterling is 117.

  • The Groceries index in Sterling is 115.

  • The Health index in Sterling is 87.

  • The Housing index in Sterling is 174.

  • The Transportation index in Sterling is 116.

  • The Utilities index in Sterling is 112.

Living Expense Sterling Virginia National Average
Overall 132 102 100
Services 117 102 100
Groceries 115 98 100
Health 87 102 100
Housing 174 107 100
Transportation 116 95 100
Utilities 112 102 100
For more reading on cost of living around Virginia, check out:
Sterling Cost of Living Vs. VA

Sterling, VA Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Virginia, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Sterling is $403,700.

  • The Median Rent in Sterling is $1,967.

  • The Median Income in Sterling is $110,915.

  • The Home Value To Income in Sterling is 3.6x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Sterling is 0.21x.

Statistic Sterling Virginia United States
Median Home Value $403,700 $295,500 $244,900
Median Rent $1,967 $1,326 $1,163
Median Income $110,915 $80,615 $69,021
Home Value To Income 3.6x 3.7x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.21x 0.2x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Sterling, VA
$403,700
Median Home Value
$1,967
Median Rent
$110,915
Median Income

Sterling, VA Costs By Category

Detailed Sterling Services Costs Vs. Virginia

Item Sterling Virginia
Shampoo $1.43 $1.06
Movie $12.5 $10.68
Bowling $21.25 $14.67
Haircut $31.92 $18.62
Beauty Salon $63.67 $39.05

Detailed Sterling Groceries Costs Vs. Virginia

Item Sterling Virginia
Ground Beef $4.7 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.75 $1.39
Milk $2.49 $2.05
Potatoes $3.99 $3.29
Pizza $11.99 $10.62
Beer $10.99 $9.38
Toothpaste $2.74 $2.34

Detailed Sterling Health Costs Vs. Virginia

Item Sterling Virginia
Optometrist $75.0 $108.57
Doctor $97.0 $116.17
Dentist $87.0 $99.13

Detailed Sterling Transportation Costs Vs. Virginia

Item Sterling Virginia
Gasoline $2.44 $2.22
Tire Balancing $62.0 $50.07

Detailed Sterling Utilities Costs Vs. Virginia

Item Sterling Virginia
All Electricity $193.98 $167.67
Phone $190.63 $175.64

Sterling SnackAbility

7
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
9
Affordability
5
Diversity
10
Safety
N/A
Amenities
9.5
Education
7
Commute
6

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Sterling

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Sterling. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Bethesda, MD has a cost of living index of 192, 1.5x Sterling.

  • Ashburn, VA has a cost of living index of 149, 1.1x Sterling.

  • Clarksburg, MD has a cost of living index of 153, 1.2x Sterling.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Sterling
Bethesda, MD 66,294 192 1.5x
Ashburn, VA 44,950 149 1.1x
Clarksburg, MD 27,354 153 1.2x
Herndon, VA 24,574 140 1.1x
North Potomac, MD 24,449 167 1.3x
McNair, VA 20,980 142 1.1x
Franklin Farm, VA 18,906 167 1.3x
Sugarland Run, VA 12,928 137 1.0x
Cascades, VA 12,509 150 1.1x
Dranesville, VA 11,951 165 1.2x

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