Cost of Living Comparison Between Blacksburg, VA and Ipswich Cost of Living Comparison Between Blacksburg, VA and Ipswich

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,035 per month in Blacksburg, VA vs $2,092 in Ipswich, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,133 per month in Blacksburg, VA vs $3,185 in Ipswich, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,231 per month in Blacksburg, VA vs $4,279 in Ipswich, rent included.

Blacksburg, VA is about 3% cheaper than Ipswich, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Blacksburg, VA and Ipswich sit above the global median – Blacksburg, VA by 52%, Ipswich by 56%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.24 $16.24

$20.14 £14.97

-19.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.8 $62.8

$88.0 £65.4

-28.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.63 $8.63

$10.90 £8.10

-20.83%

Cappuccino

$4.89 $4.89

$4.55 £3.38

7.47%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.51 £1.12

66.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.05 £0.78

88.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 $6.13

$6.89 £5.12

-11.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.14 $8.14

$6.17 £4.58

31.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.44 £1.07

-31.25%

White Bread (500g)

$3.57 $3.57

$1.42 £1.05

151.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$1.51 £1.12

186.09%

Eggs

$3.45 $3.45

$3.57 £2.65

-3.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.44 $13.44

$8.51 £6.32

57.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.24 $11.24

$7.03 £5.23

59.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.29 $7.29

$13.18 £9.80

-44.69%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$2.32 £1.72

90.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.38 £1.03

19.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$2.08 £1.55

87.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.80 $4.80

$2.11 £1.57

127.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.72 £1.28

61.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.58 £1.17

39.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.06 $2.06

$0.86 £0.64

139.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.96 £0.71

110.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.35 $7.35

$16.49 £12.26

-55.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$10.70 £7.96

40.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.73 £1.28

3.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 $4.46

$2.41 £1.79

85.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.78 £2.07

-29.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.4 £65.7

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.45 $4.45

$6.26 £4.65

-28.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.11 £0.82

50.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.16 $12.16

$33.39 £24.82

-63.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.91 £1.42

-58.64%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.4K $25.4K

$38.1K £28.3K

-33.23%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.2K $24.2K

$41.6K £30.9K

-41.97%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$147 $147

$335 £249

-56.06%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$31.97 $31.97

$14.22 £10.57

124.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$97.7 $97.7

$34.95 £25.98

179.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.33 $40.33

$73.6 £54.7

-45.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.86 $9.86

$11.07 £8.23

-10.93%

Cinema Ticket

$13.17 $13.17

$13.48 £10.02

-2.30%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$861 $861

$1,910 £1,420

-54.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.0K $26.0K

$22.3K £16.6K

16.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.94 $30.94

$81.2 £60.4

-61.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.77 $29.77

$40.50 £30.11

-26.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.6 $62.6

$88.3 £65.6

-29.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.9 $75.9

$70.0 £52.1

8.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,338 $1,338

$1,069 £795

25.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$949 $949

$849 £631

11.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,131 $2,131

$1,523 £1,132

39.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,973 $1,973

$1,544 £1,147

27.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,075 $2,075

$5,198 £3,864

-60.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,110 $2,110

$3,975 £2,955

-46.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,151 $4,151

$3,033 £2,254

36.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.3

5.45

15.60%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Blacksburg, VA: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ipswich: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,338 in Blacksburg, VA versus $1,069 in Ipswich. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 37% higher in Blacksburg, VA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Blacksburg, VA versus $88.0 in Ipswich. Groceries tell a different story – $360 in Blacksburg, VA vs $246 in Ipswich – so Ipswich wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Blacksburg, VA vs Ipswich: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,035 in Blacksburg, VA, $2,092 in Ipswich – roughly 3% apart. Ipswich costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,053 per month in Blacksburg, VA and $3,138 in Ipswich. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Blacksburg, VA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,035 in Blacksburg, VA and $2,092 in Ipswich. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $861 per month in Blacksburg, VA and $1,910 in Ipswich. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Blacksburg, VA, where all-in costs run around $2,035, than in Ipswich at $2,092. In Blacksburg, VA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ipswich it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Blacksburg, VA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Blacksburg, VA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ipswich makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.