Home / Select Cities  /  2024 Comparing Fairfax, VA vs. Ames, IA

2024 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Fairfax, VA vs Ames, IA

Change Cities
Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Ames or is it cheaper to live in Fairfax?
- Ames is 38.5% less expensive than Fairfax.

Which city has more affordable housing, Ames or Fairfax?
- Ames housing costs are 60.5% less expensive than Fairfax housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Fairfax or is Health Care more affordable in Ames.
- Health related expenses are 17.6% more in Ames.
 Fairfax, VAAmes, IAUnited States
 Overall142.487.6100
 Food & Groceries114.197.3100
 Health102.7120.8100
 Housing223.888.5100
 Median Home Cost$654,200$239,100$338,100
 Utilities9,740.0%9,860.0%10,000.0%
 Transportation127.667.2100
 Miscellaneous145.6114.1100

100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
DID YOU KNOW?

In order to keep your same standard of living your salary can vary greatly - whether you buy or rent, require child care, or want to include taxes. This is why we are now offering a Premium Salary & Cost of Living Calculator.

Our Premium Calculator Includes:
- Compare Cities cost of living across 9 different categories
- Personal salary calculations can optionally include Home ownership or rental, Child care, and Taxes (with details on state and local sales, income, property and automobile taxes)
- Includes the cost of Child Care for toddlers or infants, at a day care center or home care
- Grocery prices, detailed for 29 staple items in six categories
- Difference in cost of Utilities, including electric, gas and fuel oil
- Health Care Premiums and hospital expenses for major surgeries
- Taxes, Fees and Expenses you should know about, such as local car insurance rates, automobile taxes and registration, commuting costs.
- and 100s of other items you should consider before you relocate

Upgrade to Premium | See Example

View More Data >

Reviews for Fairfax    28 Reviews

I lived in the area for 17 years through high school until I eventually became a truck driver. Having now seen most states extensively, I wanted to fairly review what  More

   |    Reply

Living in Fairfax, or any of the Northern Virginia suburbs of DC, means dealing with highways that are a Gordian knot of converging lanes and overpasses, making long  More

   |    Reply

Over 9 years ago

The Cost of living here is high. Though the standard of living is also high, unless you're making over 50,000/year, it's difficult to both live and build any sort of  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Fairfax

Reviews for Ames    12 Reviews

Over 12 years ago

Hello, I am in San Jose Ca, but am seriously thinking of moving somewhere much slower for a better quality of living. I've just turned 59, so I'm kinda preparing for  More

   |    Reply

Over 12 years ago

Like every other city Ames has both good and bad points. The good points are: low cost of living, very friendly people, lots of outdoor activities and quite a few events  More

   |    Reply

Ames enjoys a high quality of life at a very affordable cost, substantially lower than many other communities. The presence of Iowa State University, a large (28,000  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Ames

 Most Recent Searches On Compare Cities
COMPARE COST OF LIVING
Compare Fairfax, Virginia Cost of Living vs Ames, Iowa Cost of Living: Taxes, Childcare, Groceries, Health...
Compare Now


ZIPS IN FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA
22030
ZIPS IN AMES, IOWA
50010 50014 50012

PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION

Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.

Try Now