Ashburn, VA vs Fairfax, VA

Ashburn, VA and Fairfax, VA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.3% difference in their overall index. Ashburn scores 165 while Fairfax scores 158 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 Ashburn is $2,397/month compared to $2,122/month in Fairfax — a 13% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Fairfax has cheaper rent, Ashburn actually has lower median home values ($659,000 vs $677,400).

Median household income in Ashburn is $152,094 compared to $132,774 in Fairfax (+14.6%). While Ashburn is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Ashburn spend roughly 18.9% of their income on rent, less than the 19.2% in Fairfax.