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2024 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Salem, VA vs Richmond, VA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Richmond or is it cheaper to live in Salem?
- Richmond is 11.9% more expensive than Salem.

Which city has more affordable housing, Richmond or Salem?
- Richmond housing costs are 34.2% more expensive than Salem housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Salem or is Health Care more affordable in Richmond.
- Health related expenses are 10.7% less in Richmond.
 Salem, VARichmond, VAUnited States
 Overall85.195.2100
 Food & Groceries98.398.0100
 Health111.199.2100
 Housing72.296.9100
 Median Home Cost$260,300$327,100$338,100
 Utilities10,260.0%9,890.0%10,000.0%
 Transportation75.583.5100
 Miscellaneous124.7136.2100

100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Salem    4 Reviews

Over 8 years ago

I am looking for property in  More

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Over 9 years ago

When we moved from Glen Allen VA to Salem I had read on here that cost of living including housing was cheaper. Housing is less unless you want a house bigger than 1300  More

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Over 13 years ago

Salem is a lovely town surrounded by the beauty of the Blue Ridge mountains. Spring, Summer and Fall is exceptionally beautiful with moderate climate and lots of  More

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Reviews for Richmond    109 Reviews

Over 2 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 3 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 3 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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ZIPS IN SALEM, VIRGINIA
24153
ZIPS IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
23223, 23225, 23224, 23220, 23227, 23222, 23226, 23221, 23230, 23219, 11 total

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