Altavista, VA vs Gretna, VA

Altavista, VA and Gretna, VA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4% difference in their overall index. Altavista scores 69 while Gretna scores 72 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Altavista is $878/month compared to $850/month in Gretna — a 3% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Gretna has cheaper rent, Altavista actually has lower median home values ($135,000 vs $140,900).

Median household income in Altavista is $45,962 compared to $36,023 in Gretna (+27.6%). Altavista offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Altavista spend roughly 22.9% of their income on rent, less than the 28.3% in Gretna.