salaryRent is lower than in 67% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.5 years of household income. Most households rent (61%), so there are plenty of rental options.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $53,200 a year. That is $26 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 40 of 199 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Petersburg?
Share of households by yearly income. 9.7% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Petersburg
| Size | Petersburg | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,365 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,135 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,248 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,308 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,447 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Petersburg overall?
Everyday prices in Virginia overall are 1% above the U.S. average (index 101.1, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Petersburg, so the Virginia figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Petersburg
Life in Petersburg
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Petersburg?
About the same. Renting and owning cost within $19 of each other each month.
Owning assumes a typical $189,000 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $18,900 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Petersburg, VA?
Renting in Petersburg costs a median of about $1,330 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Virginia median is $2,049.
How much do I need to make to live in Petersburg?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $53,200 a year, or $26 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Petersburg cheap or expensive?
Petersburg is rated OK: rent takes 29.2% of the typical household income of $54,678. It ranks 40th cheapest of 199 Virginia cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Petersburg?
The median homeowner in Petersburg pays $1,523 a year in property taxes, about 0.81% of the median home value.
Is Petersburg 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 Petersburg?
The median home value in Petersburg is $189,000, about 3.5 times the typical yearly household income.
33,537 people live in Petersburg. Numbers are typical (middle) values.