Fairfax, VA vs Falls Church, VA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Falls Church, VA has a modeled overall cost index 1.3% lower than Fairfax, VA.

Fairfax, VA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,675 / month
Falls Church, VA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,570 / 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

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓

Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Fairfax, VA and Falls Church, 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 Fairfax, VA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $85.03/month in Falls Church, VA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $148,980 in Falls Church, VA

Regional cost estimates: Fairfax, VA uses Washington, DC. Falls Church, VA uses Washington, DC. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 1.3%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$85.03

Savings

Annual Impact

$1.0K

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.

Fairfax, VA

Population:25K

Cost Index:

141.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$774K

Falls Church, VA

Population:15K

Cost Index:

139.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.02M

Planning the move to Falls Church?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Fairfax, VA

The Old Dominion State

25K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Virginia, this city has a population of 25K residents.

Falls Church, VA

The Old Dominion State

15K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Virginia, this city has a population of 15K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Fairfax, VA vs Falls Church, 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	Fairfax, VA	Falls Church, VA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,613/mo	$3,568/mo	↓ $45.46less	1.3%
Transportation	$1,218/mo	$1,203/mo	↓ $15.33less	1.3%
Other	$1,179/mo	$1,165/mo	↓ $14.84less	1.3%
Groceries	$724/mo	$720/mo	↓ $4.57less	0.6%
Healthcare	$424/mo	$421/mo	↓ $2.68less	0.6%
All Utilities	$341/mo	$339/mo	↓ $2.15less	0.6%

Housing

↓ 1.3%

Fairfax, VA

$3,613

Falls Church, VA

$3,568

Difference

$45.46

less

Transportation

↓ 1.3%

Fairfax, VA

$1,218

Falls Church, VA

$1,203

Difference

$15.33

less

Other

↓ 1.3%

Fairfax, VA

$1,179

Falls Church, VA

$1,165

Difference

$14.84

less

Groceries

↓ 0.6%

Fairfax, VA

$724

Falls Church, VA

$720

Difference

$4.57

less

Healthcare

↓ 0.6%

Fairfax, VA

$424

Falls Church, VA

$421

Difference

$2.68

less

All Utilities

↓ 0.6%

Fairfax, VA

$341

Falls Church, VA

$339

Difference

$2.15

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$2,330

To$2,240

↓ $90.00

1 Bed

From$2,400

To$2,310

↓ $90.00

2 Bed

From$2,675

To$2,570

↓ $105

3 Bed

From$3,375

To$3,240

↓ $135

Fairfax, VAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,320–$2,440/mo

Falls Church, VAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,310–$2,310/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 Fairfax, VA

$7,415

Monthly in Falls Church, VA

$85.03

Difference

Home Values

Fairfax

Falls Church

$774K

Median Value

$1.02M

YoY Change

↑ +2.2%

↑ +24.6%

5-Year Change

↑ +24.6%

$692K - $828K

Price Range

$1.02M

Homes in Falls Church are 32% more expensive than Fairfax

Calculate payment - Fairfax Calculate payment - Falls Church

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Fairfax, 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

Falls Church, 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

Fairfax, VA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.7%

Property Tax:0.8%

Falls Church, 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

Fairfax

Falls Church

45 Good

Air Quality

45 Good

63.7%

Good Air Days

63.7%

98 High

Climate Risk

98 High

🌊🌀🌡

Top Hazards

🌊🌀🌡

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

27 days

Heat Days >95°F

27 days

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

27 days

Heat Days >95°F

27 days

Before moving from Fairfax, VA to Falls Church, VA

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Falls Church, VA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Fairfax, VA. 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 Fairfax to Falls Church moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Fairfax, VA vs Falls Church, VA

How do the cost estimates for Fairfax, VA and Falls Church, VA compare?

Falls Church, VA has a modeled overall cost index 1.3% lower than Fairfax, VA. 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 Fairfax, VA, the model estimates $148,980 in Falls Church, 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 Fairfax, VA and Falls Church, VA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,675/month in Fairfax, VA and $2,570/month in Falls Church, 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.