2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Richmond, VA vs Reston, VA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Reston or is it cheaper to live in Richmond?
- Reston is 57.2% more expensive than Richmond.

Which city has more affordable housing, Reston or Richmond?
- Reston housing costs are 95.4% more expensive than Richmond housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Richmond or is Health Care more affordable in Reston.
- Health related expenses are 2.9% more in Reston.
 Richmond, VAReston, VAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock149.7100
 Food & Groceries98.0  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock102.1100
 Housing96.9  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$570,700$338,100
 Utilities99  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock123.4100
 Miscellaneous136.2  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Richmond    109 Reviews

Over 3 years ago

Lived here for a year and it’s not perfect but it’s constantly improving now (areas redevloped, more businesses, job growth). Cost of living is great compared to  More

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Over 4 years ago

We love Richmond so much that when we talk about where we'd like to live if we could live anywhere in the US, we always come back to RVA. We live in the city proper  More

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Over 4 years ago

I'm an out-of-towner but am coming up on 1 year in Richmond. I would summarize it this way: the best thing and the worst thing about Richmond is its location. I'll  More

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Reviews for Reston    21 Reviews

Over 3 years ago

I have lived in Reston for three years and it is absolute paradise. The fact that it was a planned city from decades ago is still apparent to this day. With plenty of  More

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Over 10 years ago

Summers are hot and  More

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There is a vast network of bike and walking trails thoughout the city and neighborhoods. 40% of the city is slated to remain green so there are many trees, parks and  More

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