Cost of Living Comparison Between Williamsburg, VA and Harrisburg, PA Cost of Living Comparison Between Williamsburg, VA and Harrisburg, PA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,877 in Williamsburg, VA versus $2,631 in Harrisburg, PA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,185 in Williamsburg, VA versus $3,737 in Harrisburg, PA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,494 in Williamsburg, VA versus $4,844 in Harrisburg, PA.

Living in Williamsburg, VA is roughly 9% more expensive than in Harrisburg, PA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Williamsburg, VA 115% above, Harrisburg, PA 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.02 $20.02

$15.06 $15.06

32.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.4 $81.4

$65.8 $65.8

23.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.51 $13.51

$11.94 $11.94

13.15%

Cappuccino

$5.58 $5.58

$5.23 $5.23

6.69%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$3.06 $3.06

-11.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.26 $2.26

-1.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.08 $6.08

$5.91 $5.91

2.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.42 $7.42

$7.97 $7.97

-6.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.14 $1.14

-13.16%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.96 $3.96

-19.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$3.97 $3.97

-4.03%

Eggs

$3.61 $3.61

$4.29 $4.29

-15.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.49 $13.49

$14.93 $14.93

-9.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.40 $8.40

$14.30 $14.30

-41.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.09 $15.09

$18.95 $18.95

-20.37%

Apples (1kg)

$6.50 $6.50

$5.79 $5.79

12.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 $1.36

$2.00 $2.00

-32.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$5.31 $5.31

-13.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.40 $3.40

$6.58 $6.58

-48.33%

Potato (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.81 $3.81

-26.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 $1.56

$2.28 $2.28

-31.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.44 $2.44

-29.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.53 $6.53

$9.02 $9.02

-27.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.56 $10.56

$14.71 $14.71

-28.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.62 $2.62

1.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 $3.78

$4.46 $4.46

-15.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.52 $2.52

-22.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.9 $50.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 $3.46

$4.09 $4.09

-15.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.92 $1.92

31.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.70 $28.70

$30.17 $30.17

-4.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.91 $0.91

-4.40%

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

$29.8K $29.8K

$26.6K $26.6K

12.15%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.3K $25.3K

2.47%

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

$193 $193

$160 $160

21.02%

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

$55.3 $55.3

$59.4 $59.4

-6.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.5 $66.5

$67.3 $67.3

-1.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.7 $96.7

$27.10 $27.10

256.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.33 $25.33

$19.94 $19.94

27.03%

Cinema Ticket

$14.88 $14.88

$10.94 $10.94

36.01%

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

$1,755 $1,755

$1,111 $1,111

58.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.0K $24.0K

$20.9K $20.9K

14.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.90 $36.90

$39.71 $39.71

-7.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.40 $35.40

$32.74 $32.74

8.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.6 $96.6

$77.9 $77.9

23.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$154 $154

$82.0 $82.0

88.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,445 $2,445

$1,536 $1,536

59.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,548 $1,548

$1,391 $1,391

11.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,660 $2,660

$1,968 $1,968

35.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,524 $2,524

$2,060 $2,060

22.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,153 $2,153

$1,841 $1,841

16.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,734 $1,734

$1,847 $1,847

-6.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,362 $4,362

$4,233 $4,233

3.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.44

2.48%

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

Last update for Williamsburg, VA: July 21, 2026

Last update for Harrisburg, PA: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,445 in Williamsburg, VA and $1,536 in Harrisburg, PA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Williamsburg, VA pays 3% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $81.0 in Williamsburg, VA vs $66.0 in Harrisburg, PA. Groceries flip the comparison at $360 vs $460, with Williamsburg, VA cheaper for home cooking.

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

Williamsburg, VA vs Harrisburg, PA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Williamsburg, VA and Harrisburg, PA differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($2,877 vs $2,631 including rent). Harrisburg, PA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 3% higher in Williamsburg, VA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,445 in Williamsburg, VA versus $1,536 in Harrisburg, PA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,755 in Williamsburg, VA versus $1,111 in Harrisburg, PA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Harrisburg, PA – a meal for two runs $66.0 versus $81.0 in Williamsburg, VA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,631 in Harrisburg, PA versus $2,877 in Williamsburg, VA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Harrisburg, PA but tight or insufficient in Williamsburg, VA. The gap between the two cities makes Harrisburg, PA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Williamsburg, VA and Harrisburg, PA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Harrisburg, PA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Williamsburg, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.