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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,099 per month in Ipswich vs $2,078 in Blacksburg, VA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,167 per month in Ipswich vs $3,162 in Blacksburg, VA, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,236 per month in Ipswich vs $4,245 in Blacksburg, VA, rent included.

Ipswich costs about 1% more than Blacksburg, VA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ipswich and Blacksburg, VA sit above the global median – Ipswich by 57%, Blacksburg, VA by 56%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.73 £15.42

$15.96 $15.96

29.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$87.4 £65.0

$62.0 $62.0

40.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.97 £8.16

$8.98 $8.98

22.16%

Cappuccino

$4.78 £3.56

$4.87 $4.87

-1.85%

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

$1.58 £1.18

$2.57 $2.57

-38.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 £0.81

$2.03 $2.03

-46.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.89 £5.12

$6.13 $6.13

12.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.25 £4.65

$8.09 $8.09

-22.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 £1.04

$0.95 $0.95

47.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 £1.05

$3.57 $3.57

-60.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.45 £1.08

$4.34 $4.34

-66.59%

Eggs

$3.75 £2.79

$3.43 $3.43

9.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.38 £6.24

$13.77 $13.77

-39.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.81 £5.06

$11.50 $11.50

-40.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 £9.86

$7.07 $7.07

87.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 £1.74

$4.50 $4.50

-48.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 £1.00

$1.70 $1.70

-21.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 £1.49

$3.74 $3.74

-46.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 £1.64

$4.59 $4.59

-51.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.73 £1.28

$2.65 $2.65

-34.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.59 £1.18

$2.25 $2.25

-29.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 £0.66

$1.98 $1.98

-55.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 £0.73

$2.02 $2.02

-51.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.88 £12.56

$7.68 $7.68

119.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.56 £7.86

$14.86 $14.86

-28.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 £1.33

$1.80 $1.80

-1.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 £1.86

$4.48 $4.48

-44.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.70 £2.01

$1.97 $1.97

37.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.6 £65.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 £4.52

$4.63 $4.63

31.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.12 £0.83

$1.69 $1.69

-33.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.31 £24.77

$11.86 $11.86

180.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.91 £1.42

$0.85 $0.85

124.71%

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

$37.7K £28.0K

$25.4K $25.4K

48.54%

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

$41.4K £30.8K

$24.5K $24.5K

69.34%

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

$336 £250

$146 $146

130.05%

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

$14.22 £10.58

$32.10 $32.10

-55.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.55 £26.44

$97.7 $97.7

-63.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.0 £55.1

$39.73 $39.73

86.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.06 £8.23

$9.98 $9.98

10.82%

Cinema Ticket

$13.45 £10.01

$13.10 $13.10

2.67%

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

$1,878 £1,397

$870 $870

115.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.3K £16.6K

$26.1K $26.1K

-14.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.1 £59.6

$31.62 $31.62

153.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.12 £30.59

$29.66 $29.66

38.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.9 £66.1

$61.7 $61.7

44.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.3 £53.1

$73.8 $73.8

-3.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,078 £801

$1,326 $1,326

-18.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$849 £632

$960 $960

-11.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,515 £1,127

$2,137 $2,137

-29.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,519 £1,130

$1,963 $1,963

-22.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,020 £3,734

$2,046 $2,046

145.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,951 £2,939

$2,035 $2,035

94.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,963 £2,204

$4,127 $4,127

-28.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.45

6.3

-13.49%

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

Last update for Ipswich: July 13, 2026

Last update for Blacksburg, VA: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,078 in Ipswich versus $1,326 in Blacksburg, VA. 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 39% 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 $87.0 in Ipswich versus $62.0 in Blacksburg, VA. Groceries tell a different story – $245 in Ipswich vs $359 in Blacksburg, VA – 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,099 in Ipswich, $2,078 in Blacksburg, VA – roughly 1% apart. Ipswich costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,148 per month in Ipswich and $3,117 in Blacksburg, VA. 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 $2,099 in Ipswich and $2,078 in Blacksburg, VA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,878 per month in Ipswich and $870 in Blacksburg, VA. 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 $2,078, than in Ipswich at $2,099. 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.