I’ve moved a lot in my lifetime. Even just looking at my adult years, eight of them, I’ve moved 6 times due to my military service. Looking back at the times I moved, I’m thinking about the questions I researched before moving to a new area. One major question was “what is the cost of living there”. So that’s the question I’m going to answer for you today.

So, what is the cost of living here in Lynchburg, Virginia? Well, Lynchburg is relatively affordable compared to many other cities in Virginia. Now this can vary depending on various factors such as housing, transportation, and healthcare, but according to Numbeo, Lynchburg’s cost of living index is 83.31, which means it is 16.69% cheaper than New York City (the city with the highest cost of living in America). So, let’s break this down and look at some individual factors.

Housing

One of the most significant expenses to factor into cost of living is your housing costs. The cost of buying or renting a home in Lynchburg is relatively affordable compared to other cities in Virginia. The median home value in Lynchburg is $214,500 while the Virginia state median is $$381,195. Meanwhile, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Lynchburg is around $830 per month, while a two-bedroom apartment costs around $999 per month.

Transportation

Another thing to consider are your transportation costs. Transportation costs in Lynchburg are also relatively low compared to other cities. Lynchburg has a public transportation system called the Greater Lynchburg Transit Company. According to their website, the cost of a single ride on the bus is $2, while a monthly pass costs $50. As for gas, I’m seeing about $3.15 as the average here right now.

Food and Grocery

The next thing to consider are your food and grocery costs. Food and grocery costs in Lynchburg are also relatively affordable. If I go to an inexpensive restaurant, like Chipotle or Panera Bread, I’m probably going to spend about $10. Meanwhile, if my fiancé and I go out on a date night to a mid-range restaurant and get a 3-course meal, we’re looking at spending about $60-$70. As for groceries, when I go shopping at Walmart, I’m looking at getting a gallon of milk for about $3.37 and a loaf of bread for about $2.

Healthcare

Another thing to consider with cost of living are your healthcare costs. Healthcare costs in Lynchburg are higher than the national average. According to Healthcare Bluebook, the average cost of a doctor’s visit in Lynchburg is around $122, which is higher than the national average of $107. The cost of prescription medication can also be higher in Lynchburg than in other cities. 

Taxes

The final thing to consider is taxes. Now your taxes will vary depending on whether you live in Lynchburg City itself, or one of the surrounding counties, like Bedford. We’re going to focus on Lynchburg City itself. The city’s tax rate for residential properties is currently set at $1.05 per $100 of assessed value. This means that if a property is assessed at $100,000, the annual housing tax for that property would be $1,050. Additionally, the tax rate for cars is set at $4.20 per $100 of assessed value. This means that if a car is assessed at $10,000, the annual personal property tax for that car would be $420. Lastly, the tax rate for boats is set at $1.10 per $100 of assessed value and the tax rate for recreational vehicles is set at $3.70 per $100 of assessed value. 

So, as you can see, the cost of living in Lynchburg is relatively affordable compared to other cities in Virginia. Really the only thin g to be wary of are the higher-than-average healthcare costs, so just be sure to keep that in mind. If you are considering moving to Lynchburg, then I hope this post has been informative and helpful in your decision-making process.