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: $2,798 in Williamsburg, VA versus $2,570 in Harrisburg, PA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,166 in Williamsburg, VA versus $3,780 in Harrisburg, PA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,535 in Williamsburg, VA versus $4,990 in Harrisburg, PA.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Williamsburg, VA 104% above, Harrisburg, PA 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.62 $18.62

$24.34 $24.34

-23.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.8 $73.8

$64.8 $64.8

13.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.88 $12.88

$10.93 $10.93

17.84%

Cappuccino

$5.43 $5.43

$5.02 $5.02

8.17%

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

$2.80 $2.80

$3.03 $3.03

-7.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.27 $2.27

-4.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.13 $5.13

$5.26 $5.26

-2.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.68 $7.68

$7.09 $7.09

8.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.22 $1.22

-9.84%

White Bread (500g)

$3.81 $3.81

$4.13 $4.13

-7.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.85 $3.85

$2.63 $2.63

46.39%

Eggs

$3.50 $3.50

$5.06 $5.06

-30.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.19 $13.19

$14.85 $14.85

-11.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 $8.34

$14.23 $14.23

-41.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$18.95 $18.95

-21.37%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$4.45 $4.45

25.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 $1.31

$1.87 $1.87

-29.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.72 $4.72

$4.51 $4.51

4.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.47 $3.47

$5.72 $5.72

-39.34%

Potato (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$3.23 $3.23

73.68%

Onion (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$3.84 $3.84

-13.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 $1.56

$2.23 $2.23

-30.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.47 $2.47

-28.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.25 $6.25

$5.83 $5.83

7.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.65 $10.65

$15.26 $15.26

-30.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$2.56 $2.56

-9.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 $3.70

$2.79 $2.79

32.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.54 $2.54

-42.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.31 $45.31

$49.16 $49.16

-7.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 $2.95

$3.88 $3.88

-23.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.25 $1.25

18.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.39 $22.39

$24.78 $24.78

-9.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$0.95 $0.95

-13.68%

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

$36.7K $36.7K

$27.1K $27.1K

35.56%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$25.3K $25.3K

-0.76%

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

$191 $191

$163 $163

16.84%

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

$47.44 $47.44

$43.58 $43.58

8.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.6 $60.6

$61.7 $61.7

-1.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.6 $95.6

$28.04 $28.04

240.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.19 $25.19

$20.18 $20.18

24.83%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$10.82 $10.82

35.95%

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

$1,890 $1,890

$1,109 $1,109

70.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.2K $24.2K

$20.8K $20.8K

16.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.07 $37.07

$39.64 $39.64

-6.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.71 $34.71

$32.91 $32.91

5.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 $85.3

$78.5 $78.5

8.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$151 $151

$99.5 $99.5

51.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,215 $2,215

$1,449 $1,449

52.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,510 $1,510

$1,283 $1,283

17.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,677 $2,677

$2,039 $2,039

31.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,705 $2,705

$2,046 $2,046

32.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,183 $2,183

$1,847 $1,847

18.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,704 $1,704

$1,816 $1,816

-6.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,392 $4,392

$4,154 $4,154

5.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.34

6.27

1.12%

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

Last update for Williamsburg, VA: August 30, 2026

Last update for Harrisburg, PA: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,215 in Williamsburg, VA and $1,449 in Harrisburg, PA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Williamsburg, VA pays 6% 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: $74.0 in Williamsburg, VA vs $65.0 in Harrisburg, PA. Groceries flip the comparison at $368 vs $442, 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 ($2,798 vs $2,570 including rent). Harrisburg, PA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 6% 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: $2,215 in Williamsburg, VA versus $1,449 in Harrisburg, PA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,890 in Williamsburg, VA versus $1,109 in Harrisburg, PA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Williamsburg, VA pay roughly 20% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

At $2,570 in Harrisburg, PA versus $2,798 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.