Cost of Living in Gainesville, VA - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,022 (excluding rent), and $2,740 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $3,193 (excluding rent), and $5,124 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.88 $21.88

$11.19 $11.19

$45.79 $45.79

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.9 $78.9

$59.1 $59.1

$128 $128

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.07 $13.07

$7.92 $7.92

$14.85 $14.85

Cappuccino

$5.33 $5.33

$3.46 $3.46

$7.91 $7.91

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

$2.83 $2.83

$1.52 $1.52

$3.04 $3.04

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.03 $1.03

$3.08 $3.08

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.48 $6.48

$2.99 $2.99

$7.97 $7.97

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.03 $8.03

$5.02 $5.02

$10.03 $10.03

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.55 $0.55

$1.92 $1.92

White Bread (500g)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.07 $1.07

$4.72 $4.72

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.03 $6.03

$2.19 $2.19

$10.97 $10.97

Eggs

$4.87 $4.87

$1.98 $1.98

$10.39 $10.39

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.09 $19.09

$7.13 $7.13

$22.47 $22.47

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.14 $10.14

$6.52 $6.52

$23.99 $23.99

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

$8.67 $8.67

$33.58 $33.58

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$2.22 $2.22

$11.13 $11.13

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.09 $1.09

$4.44 $4.44

Oranges (1kg)

$6.96 $6.96

$4.26 $4.26

$10.70 $10.70

Tomato (1kg)

$6.64 $6.64

$3.52 $3.52

$13.29 $13.29

Potato (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$2.16 $2.16

$5.46 $5.46

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.94 $1.94

$4.28 $4.28

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$0.98 $0.98

$3.46 $3.46

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.18 $1.18

$4.93 $4.93

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.98 $7.98

$4.99 $4.99

$12.47 $12.47

Wine (Bottle)

$14.03 $14.03

$8.02 $8.02

$25.06 $25.06

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$4.23 $4.23

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.86 $3.86

$1.70 $1.70

$7.20 $7.20

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.23 $1.23

$1.97 $1.97

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.59 $4.59

$3.06 $3.06

$6.12 $6.12

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.95 $1.95

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.35 $29.35

$26.54 $26.54

$35.19 $35.19

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.79 $0.79

$1.06 $1.06

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$23.0K $23.0K

$35.4K $35.4K

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$23.4K $23.4K

$26.4K $26.4K

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

$212 $212

$91.1 $91.1

$455 $455

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

$53.5 $53.5

$35.44 $35.44

$182 $182

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.0 $66.0

$39.41 $39.41

$112 $112

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.06 $43.06

$17.52 $17.52

$50.1 $50.1

Cinema Ticket

$15.25 $15.25

$18.29 $18.29

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

$1,728 $1,728

$1,185 $1,185

$2,468 $2,468

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.1K $24.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.02 $47.02

$29.70 $29.70

$88.1 $88.1

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.70 $47.70

$24.67 $24.67

$83.9 $83.9

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.5 $96.5

$59.7 $59.7

$144 $144

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 $120

$69.9 $69.9

$259 $259

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,624 $1,624

$1,216 $1,216

$1,883 $1,883

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,365 $1,365

$1,009 $1,009

$1,513 $1,513

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,660 $2,660

$2,022 $2,022

$3,034 $3,034

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,220 $2,220

$1,698 $1,698

$2,498 $2,498

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,433 $2,433

$1,777 $1,777

$2,433 $2,433

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,053 $2,053

$1,692 $1,692

$2,053 $2,053

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.19

6.9

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

Last update: January 12, 2026

Gainesville, VA Median Internet Speeds (Updated December 2025)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

308

Mbps

136

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

🌎 North america

Cost of Living in Gainesville, VA - Frequently Asked Questions

A general sense is that Gainesville offers solid value for a Washington-area suburb. Cost of Living in Gainesville, VA, United States sits in the middle of the regional spectrum. For travelers, expats, and digital nomads, you’ll often find favorable long stays when you’re flexible on housing type and lease length. Groceries and utilities are reasonable if you adopt energy-saving habits, and you’ll enjoy good access to shops, libraries, and healthcare. Public transit is limited, so occasional car use or rideshares shape budgeting more than rent itself. Seasonal demand patterns appear around school calendar peaks and holidays, but costs don’t swing wildly. Tip: map a realistic monthly plan that balances DC day trips with local leisure.

Getting started means you’ll explore neighborhoods that feel quiet and bike-friendly, with rental options ranging from townhomes to single-family homes. Food options include grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and casual spots you can rely on for flexible meals. Transport often centers on car use, with rideshares or occasional bus connections for DC access; plan for parking and fuel in your budget. For remote work, coworking hubs and cafes with reliable Wi‑Fi appear across the area. Gainesville, VA, United States living cost sits lower than dense city centers, but higher than rural towns, depending on housing choices and commute patterns. Tip: visit several neighborhoods at different times of day to sense vibe and noise levels.

To optimize your life, use a simple budgeting framework: assign proportional spending to housing, groceries, transport, and discretionary expenses; keep a small buffer for surprises. Neighborhood fit matters: look for areas with parks, trails, and easy access to healthcare or libraries, and consider proximity to DC for occasional trips. Practical tips include cooking at home to stretch meals, shopping at farmers markets, and choosing energy-efficient appliances or plans to curb bills. Seasonality affects activities and energy use, so plan outdoor adventures in milder months and schedule indoor workdays when heat or cold peaks. Tip: set a monthly check-in to compare actual spend with your plan.