Cost of Living Comparison Between Fairfax, VA and Philadelphia, PA Cost of Living Comparison Between Fairfax, VA and Philadelphia, PA

😐 Solo nomad: Fairfax, VA is 5.1% more expensive than Philadelphia, PA without rent, and 18.9% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Fairfax, VA is 2.3% cheaper than Philadelphia, PA without rent, and 12.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$20.24 $20.24

-3.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$91.5 $91.5

9.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.89 $11.89

$12.07 $12.07

-1.49%

Cappuccino

$5.75 $5.75

$4.95 $4.95

16.16%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.64 $2.64

4.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.94 $1.94

20.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.11 $6.11

$6.07 $6.07

0.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$6.9 $6.9

16.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.37 $1.37

-30.66%

White Bread (500g)

$3.79 $3.79

$4.28 $4.28

-11.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.24 $6.24

$10.21 $10.21

-38.88%

Eggs

$4.86 $4.86

$4.36 $4.36

11.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.58 $17.58

$15.23 $15.23

15.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.53 $12.53

$13.92 $13.92

-9.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.33 $16.33

$20.97 $20.97

-22.13%

Apples (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$5.88 $5.88

-2.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 $1.81

$2.14 $2.14

-15.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$5.17 $5.17

1.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.6 $6.6

$5.24 $5.24

25.95%

Potato (1kg)

$3.4 $3.4

$3.46 $3.46

-1.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.88 $2.88

-3.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 $2.29

$3.09 $3.09

-25.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.53 $2.53

-4.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.6 $10.6

$12.94 $12.94

-18.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$15.13 $15.13

-0.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.04 $2.04

28.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.67 $4.67

$4.15 $4.15

12.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.08 $5.08

$2.43 $2.43

109.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.74 $44.74

$96.6 $96.6

-53.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.97 $2.97

-16.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.53 $1.53

3.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.17 $22.17

$22.18 $22.18

-0.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.94 $0.94

-3.19%

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

$29.8K $29.8K

$27.4K $27.4K

8.93%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.2K $26.2K

0.47%

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

$211 $211

$264 $264

-20.30%

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

$59.9 $59.9

$62.3 $62.3

-3.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.7 $72.7

$76.1 $76.1

-4.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$109 $109

$48.18 $48.18

125.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.82 $24.82

$32.02 $32.02

-22.49%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.72 $14.72

1.43%

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

$1,776 $1,776

$2,086 $2,086

-14.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$43.4K $43.4K

-28.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 $54.2

$51.9 $51.9

4.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50 $50

$42.41 $42.41

17.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.1 $98.1

$92.5 $92.5

6.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

-0.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,277 $2,277

$1,747 $1,747

30.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,881 $1,881

$1,343 $1,343

40.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,749 $3,749

$3,193 $3,193

17.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,914 $2,914

$2,259 $2,259

28.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,497 $5,497

$3,114 $3,114

76.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,172 $4,172

$2,413 $2,413

72.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,113 $6,113

$4,267 $4,267

43.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

6.68

-1.50%

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

Last update for Fairfax, VA: November 22, 2025

Last update for Philadelphia, PA: November 23, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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