Colonial Beach, VA vs Lake Monticello, VA

The cost of living difference between Colonial Beach, VA and Lake Monticello, VA is dramatic. Colonial Beach is 37.1% cheaper than Lake Monticello, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Colonial Beach has a cost index of 78 while Lake Monticello sits at 124, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Colonial Beach is $763/month compared to $2,167/month in Lake Monticello — a 65% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Colonial Beach is more affordable at $242,800 median vs $288,300.

Median household income in Colonial Beach is $52,119 compared to $101,363 in Lake Monticello (-48.6%). While Lake Monticello is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Colonial Beach spend roughly 17.6% of their income on rent, less than the 25.7% in Lake Monticello.