States › Virginia › Great Falls

Is Great Falls, VA expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 17 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$3,500+100% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$250,000+about $20,833/month · 187% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$1,411,000324% higher than U.S. average

Rent here is among the highest 10% in the country. Household incomes are higher than in 99% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 5.6 years of household income. Commutes are long, about 33.5 minutes each way. Most homes (95%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find. It is a highly educated city: 85.3% of adults have a college degree.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $140,040 a year. That is $67 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Virginia cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Virginia. It is number 191 of 199 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Great Falls
$3,500+
East Highland Park
$1,711
Front Royal
$1,447
Falls Church
$2,777
Williamsburg
$1,809
Wolf Trap
$3,500+
Broadlands
$3,279

How much do households earn in Great Falls?

Under $25k
1.8%
$25k–50k
2.0%
$50k–100k
8.3%
$100k–150k
15.4%
$150k+
72.9%

Share of households by yearly income. 88.2% of households earn $100,000 or more.

How expensive is Great Falls 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 Great Falls, so the Virginia figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Great Falls

🏛️ Property tax$10,000+a year · 0.71% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$260a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Great Falls

Commute to work33.5 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree85.3%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home95%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line2.2%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment3.1%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Great Falls?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $6,289 a month less.

Renting
$3,500+
Owning
$9,790

Owning assumes a typical $1,411,000 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $141,100 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Great Falls, VA?

Renting in Great Falls costs a median of about $3,500+ a month in 2026, including utilities. The Virginia median is $2,049.

How much do I need to make to live in Great Falls?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $140,040 a year, or $67 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Great Falls cheap or expensive?

Great Falls is rated Cheap: rent takes 16.8% of the typical household income of $250,000+. It ranks 191st cheapest of 199 Virginia cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Great Falls?

The median homeowner in Great Falls pays $10,000+ a year in property taxes, about 0.71% of the median home value.

Is Great Falls 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 Great Falls?

The median home value in Great Falls is $1,411,000, about 5.6 times the typical yearly household income.

15,228 people live in Great Falls. Numbers are typical (middle) values.