Ashburn, VA vs Reston, VA

Reston is moderately more affordable than Ashburn, with a 6.7% lower cost of living index. Ashburn scores 165 compared to 155 for Reston, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Ashburn can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Ashburn is $2,397/month compared to $2,170/month in Reston — a 11% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Reston is more affordable at $616,000 median vs $659,000.

Median household income in Ashburn is $152,094 compared to $139,515 in Reston (+9%). 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, more than the 18.7% in Reston.