Calera, AL vs Colonial Heights, VA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Colonial Heights, VA has a modeled overall cost index 14.2% higher than Calera, AL.

Calera, AL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,640 / month
Colonial Heights, VA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,540 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Calera, AL and Colonial Heights, VA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Calera, AL

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $1,075/month in Colonial Heights, VA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $162,901 in Colonial Heights, VA

Regional cost estimates: Calera, AL uses Birmingham, AL. Colonial Heights, VA uses Richmond, VA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 14.2%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,075

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$12.9K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Calera, AL

Population:18K

Cost Index:

82.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$251K

Colonial Heights, VA

Population:18K

Cost Index:

94.5

100 = national average

Typical Home:$288K

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Calera, AL

The Heart of Dixie

18K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Alabama, this city has a population of 18K residents.

Colonial Heights, VA

The Old Dominion State

18K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Virginia, this city has a population of 18K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Calera, AL vs Colonial Heights, VA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Calera, AL	Colonial Heights, VA	Difference	Change
Housing	$1,975/mo	$2,600/mo	↑ $624more	31.6%
Other	$1,796/mo	$1,994/mo	↑ $198more	11.0%
Healthcare	$602/mo	$737/mo	↑ $135more	22.5%
Transportation	$1,372/mo	$1,456/mo	↑ $84.52more	6.2%
All Utilities	$633/mo	$669/mo	↑ $36.30more	5.7%
Groceries	$1,123/mo	$1,119/mo	↓ $3.46less	0.3%

Housing

↑ 31.6%

Calera, AL

$1,975

Colonial Heights, VA

$2,600

Difference

$624

Other

↑ 11.0%

Calera, AL

$1,796

Colonial Heights, VA

$1,994

Difference

$198

Healthcare

↑ 22.5%

Calera, AL

$602

Colonial Heights, VA

$737

Difference

$135

Transportation

↑ 6.2%

Calera, AL

$1,372

Colonial Heights, VA

$1,456

Difference

$84.52

All Utilities

↑ 5.7%

Calera, AL

$633

Colonial Heights, VA

$669

Difference

$36.30

Groceries

↓ 0.3%

Calera, AL

$1,123

Colonial Heights, VA

$1,119

Difference

$3.46

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,320

To$1,340

↑ $20.00

1 Bed

From$1,490

To$1,400

↓ $90.00

2 Bed

From$1,640

To$1,540

↓ $100

3 Bed

From$2,050

To$1,950

↓ $100

Calera, ALZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,490–$1,490/mo

Colonial Heights, VAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,400–$1,400/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Calera, AL

$8,575

Monthly in Colonial Heights, VA

$1,075

Difference

Home Values

Calera

Colonial Heights

$251K

Median Value

$288K

↑ +0.5%

YoY Change

↑ +0.3%

↑ +29.8%

5-Year Change

↑ +41.8%

Homes in Colonial Heights are 15% more expensive than Calera

Calculate payment - Calera Calculate payment - Colonial Heights

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $908

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$75.63

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.6%

Rate difference

Calera, AL

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Alabama State Tax

Effective: 5.0%

$7.5K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.6%

$44.5K

Take-Home Pay

$8,794/month

$105.5K

Colonial Heights, VA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Virginia State Tax

Effective: 5.6%

$8.4K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.3%

$45.4K

Take-Home Pay

$8,718/month

$104.6K

Additional Tax Information

Calera, AL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.1%

Property Tax:0.4%

Colonial Heights, VA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.7%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Calera

Colonial Heights

57 Moderate

Air Quality

36 Good

26%

Good Air Days

79.2%

98 High

Climate Risk

78 Low

🌊🌡🌪

Top Hazards

None

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.8°F

41 days

Heat Days >95°F

30 days

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.8°F

41 days

Heat Days >95°F

30 days

Before moving from Calera, AL to Colonial Heights, VA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Colonial Heights, VA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Calera, AL. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Calera to Colonial Heights moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Colonial Heights, VA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Calera, AL vs Colonial Heights, VA

How do the cost estimates for Calera, AL and Colonial Heights, VA compare?

Colonial Heights, VA has a modeled overall cost index 14.2% higher than Calera, AL. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Calera, AL, the model estimates $162,901 in Colonial Heights, VA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Calera, AL and Colonial Heights, VA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,640/month in Calera, AL and $1,540/month in Colonial Heights, VA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Alabama and Virginia on TaxTakeHome.com

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