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 1.5% more expensive than Philadelphia, PA without rent, and 13.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Fairfax, VA is 3.1% more expensive than Philadelphia, PA without rent, and 8.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.28 $20.28

$19.77 $19.77

2.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$88.3 $88.3

13.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.16 $12.16

$12.22 $12.22

-0.49%

Cappuccino

$5.64 $5.64

$4.85 $4.85

16.29%

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

$2.76 $2.76

$2.61 $2.61

5.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.00 $2.00

11.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.88 $5.88

$6.09 $6.09

-3.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.10 $8.10

$6.87 $6.87

17.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.41 $1.41

-31.91%

White Bread (500g)

$3.87 $3.87

$4.19 $4.19

-7.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$10.05 $10.05

-38.71%

Eggs

$4.96 $4.96

$4.49 $4.49

10.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.87 $17.87

$14.89 $14.89

20.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.21 $12.21

$13.98 $13.98

-12.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.27 $16.27

$21.63 $21.63

-24.78%

Apples (1kg)

$5.71 $5.71

$6.16 $6.16

-7.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.22 $2.22

-20.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.08 $5.08

1.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.64 $6.64

$5.41 $5.41

22.74%

Potato (1kg)

$3.47 $3.47

$3.44 $3.44

0.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.88 $2.88

-6.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.21 $2.21

$3.04 $3.04

-27.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.42 $2.42

2.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.77 $10.77

$13.06 $13.06

-17.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.94 $13.94

$15.03 $15.03

-7.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.04 $2.04

28.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.50 $4.50

$4.12 $4.12

9.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.06 $5.06

$2.44 $2.44

107.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.48 $44.48

$95.8 $95.8

-53.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.98 $2.98

-17.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.58 $1.58

-3.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.10 $22.10

$21.58 $21.58

2.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.93 $0.93

-7.53%

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

$28.9K $28.9K

$27.0K $27.0K

7.32%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.8K $25.8K

0.80%

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

$211 $211

$265 $265

-20.49%

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

$59.8 $59.8

$63.6 $63.6

-5.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.0 $74.0

$76.0 $76.0

-2.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$108 $108

$49.43 $49.43

118.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.73 $24.73

$33.07 $33.07

-25.22%

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$14.77 $14.77

3.18%

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

$1,735 $1,735

$2,069 $2,069

-16.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K $31.0K

$44.0K $44.0K

-29.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$51.6 $51.6

5.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.96 $49.96

$42.45 $42.45

17.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.7 $95.7

$93.4 $93.4

2.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$141 $141

2.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,257 $2,257

$1,802 $1,802

25.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,864 $1,864

$1,378 $1,378

35.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,700 $3,700

$3,135 $3,135

18.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,969 $2,969

$2,330 $2,330

27.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,496 $5,496

$4,128 $4,128

33.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,154 $4,154

$1,891 $1,891

119.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,690 $5,690

$4,421 $4,421

28.70%

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Philadelphia, PA: April 13, 2026

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

Fairfax, VA vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Dublin

🇮🇪 Ireland

Amsterdam

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Luxembourg

🇱🇺 Luxembourg

Sacramento, CA

🇺🇸 United States

Bern

🇨🇭 Switzerland

Santa Rosa, CA

🇺🇸 United States

Tacoma, WA

🇺🇸 United States

Saint Helier

🇯🇪 Jersey