Cost of Living in Blacksburg, VA
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Blacksburg, VA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Prices in Blacksburg, VA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.7 | −7.3% |
| Housing | 74.4 | −25.6% |
| Goods | 96.8 | −3.2% |
| Utilities | 88.1 | −11.9% |
| Other services | 98.6 | −1.4% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Blacksburg, VA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $849 | $33,960/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $942 | $37,680/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,164 | $46,560/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,540 | $61,600/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,920 | $76,800/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Blacksburg, VA
- Federal income tax$3,594
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,983
- Medicare (1.45%)$698
- Virginia income tax$1,953
- Take-home pay$38,892
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
Highest-paying jobs in Blacksburg, VA
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Blacksburg, VA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA metro area are 92.7% of the U.S. average, with housing at 74.4%. It is the #219 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Blacksburg, VA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $55,626 in Blacksburg, VA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $48,120.
How much is rent in Blacksburg, VA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Blacksburg, VA are $849 for a studio, $942 for one bedroom, $1,164 for two bedrooms and $1,540 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in Blacksburg, VA
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $97,480
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Accountant and Auditor — $74,800
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $111,630
Community and Social Service Occupations
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $60,880
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $60,600
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $30,440
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $81,230
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $37,850
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $29,700
Protective Service Occupations
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $56,250
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $42,900
- Waiter and Waitress — $37,670
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,050
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,300
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $35,180
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $34,520
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $29,530
Sales and Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $46,140
- Retail Salesperson — $31,780
- Cashier — $28,770
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $51,620
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $44,100
- Office Clerks, General — $42,420
- Customer Service Representative — $37,430
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $48,500
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $48,040
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $77,800
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $45,950
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers — $38,570
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $53,980
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $46,440
- Stocker and Order Filler — $34,880