States › Virginia › Galax

Is Galax, VA expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 22 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$78255% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$41,711about $3,476/month · 52% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$141,30058% lower than U.S. average

Rent here is among the lowest 10% of all U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.4 years of household income.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $31,280 a year. That is $15 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Virginia cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Virginia. It is number 3 of 199 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Galax
$782
Bridgewater
$1,279
South Run
$3,500+
Buena Vista
$2,109
Pimmit Hills
$2,603
Belle Haven
$2,136
Braddock
$3,500+

How much do households earn in Galax?

Under $25k
28.8%
$25k–50k
23.4%
$50k–100k
23.3%
$100k–150k
7.0%
$150k+
9.4%

Share of households by yearly income. 16.4% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Galax

SizeGalaxU.S. average
1 bedroom$593$1,324
2 bedrooms$771$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,042$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Galax overall?

Everyday prices in Virginia overall are 1% above the U.S. average (index 101.1, U.S. = 100).

Housing
107
Goods (food, clothes…)
100
Utilities
92
Other services
100
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Galax, so the Virginia figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Galax

🏛️ Property tax$1,072a year · 0.76% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$167a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Galax

Commute to work22.6 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree19.1%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home56.3%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line31.1%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment5.1%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Galax?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $198 a month less.

Renting
$782
Owning
$980

Owning assumes a typical $141,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $14,130 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Galax, VA?

Renting in Galax costs a median of about $782 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Virginia median is $2,049.

How much do I need to make to live in Galax?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $31,280 a year, or $15 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Galax cheap or expensive?

Galax is rated OK: rent takes 22.5% of the typical household income of $41,711. It ranks 3rd cheapest of 199 Virginia cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Galax?

The median homeowner in Galax pays $1,072 a year in property taxes, about 0.76% of the median home value.

Is Galax more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Virginia are 1% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Galax?

The median home value in Galax is $141,300, about 3.4 times the typical yearly household income.

6,726 people live in Galax. Numbers are typical (middle) values.