McLean, VA vs Reston, VA

The cost of living difference between McLean, VA and Reston, VA is dramatic. Reston is 60.2% cheaper than McLean, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. McLean has a cost index of 248 while Reston sits at 155, 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 McLean is $3,376/month compared to $2,170/month in Reston — a 56% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Reston is more affordable at $616,000 median vs $1,304,900.

Median household income in McLean is $250,001 compared to $139,515 in Reston (+79.2%). While McLean is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of McLean spend roughly 16.2% of their income on rent, less than the 18.7% in Reston.