With mortgage rates still high and housing inventory below pre-COVID-19 levels, many Virginians might prefer to rent. It certainly comes with its own set of benefits, including a lack of long-term commitment and the ability to call the landlord when something breaks.
However, rent in Virginia isn’t as cheap as one might expect. For $1,797, you’ll likely find a modest one-bedroom apartment.
Here’s how much your rental dollars will get you in Virginia right now.
Average rent
Across all rentals by bedroom count and property type, the current average monthly rent in Virginia is $2,100, according to Zillow. This represents a $100 increase over the last year. As such, the market’s temperature is classified as warm, meaning there’s a decent amount of demand.
The average is 5 percent higher than the national average of $2,000. The Virginia Office of Data Governance and Analytics notes that Virginia has the 19th highest rent in the country when factoring in all 56 states and territories.
Surprisingly, though, Virginian renters only spend an average of 23.66 percent of their monthly income on housing, according to WalletHub. Out of all 50 states, Virginia is in the bottom half of the ranking in 44th place. The modest 23.66 percent is well below how much Hawaii residents spend, which is 62.52 percent.
Average apartment rent
With an average apartment rent of $1,797, Virginia is the 12th most expensive state when it comes to rental prices, above the national average of $1,644. The price is representative of a one-bedroom apartment with an average square footage of 727, according to Apartments.com. Luckily, there has only been a modest increase of 0.4 percent over the past year.
As of May, there were over 50,000 available rentals in the commonwealth. Those looking for a slightly more affordable option might consider a studio for an average monthly price tag of $1,670. A two-bedroom would increase the cost to $1,985.
Most & least populous cities
Cities in Virginia vary greatly in size and rent. Virginia Beach represents the largest city in the commonwealth, whereas Norton is the least populous city.
Virginia Beach
The most populous city in Virginia, Virginia Beach, is home to 454,808 residents.
Clearly, there’s a lot of housing stock in the city, but that also means rent prices are quite a bit higher than average, at $2,250, according to Zillow. That number represents a $96 increase since May 2025.
For a more affordable option, a studio is the best bet, with average rent being $1,681.
Norton
Unlike Virginia Beach, Norton in far Southwest Virginia is the least populated independent city in the commonwealth with only 3,477 residents.
As a result, the average rent according to Zillow is much cheaper at $667 for a two-bedroom apartment. When considering a bigger, four-bedroom unit, the average rent increases to $1,013.
However, it should be noted that the rental stock in Norton is quite limited, so the average is significantly impacted by the few rentals that are available.
Richmond
The commonwealth’s capital city of Richmond, with 233,655 residents, has an average rent of $1,695, according to Zillow. Over the last year, there has only been a $15 increase in the average rent.
Those looking for cheaper rent options might consider studios with an average rent of $1,246 or one-bedroom apartments with an average rent of $1,350.
The rental market in Richmond is currently described as being cool, with a lower level of demand.
City with the lowest rent
The city of considerable size that has the lowest rent according to Apartments.com is Lynchburg in Central Virginia. Renters in the city of 80,301 residents should expect an average rent of $1,018, 38 percent below the national average. The average is representative of a one-bedroom apartment of 731 square feet. There has only been a modest 1.7 percent increase in Lynchburg’s average in the last year.
Studios in Lynchburg are a bit cheaper at $918, whereas two-bedroom apartments average $1,204.
With an average annual salary of $59,632 in a city that has a cost of living that’s 7.4 percent lower than the national average, Lynchburg presents as an attractive city in terms of rent and affordability.
Roanoke, a city of around 100,000 in Southwest Virginia, comes in slightly higher with an average rent of $1,106.
Resources for renters
Renting can be a complicated process, which is why there are organizations dedicated to making the process easier.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Virginia homepage offers information to help those facing homelessness, guides on finding affordable places to live, and a way for renters to report housing discrimination.
Virginia Housing
Virginia Housing is an organization focused on helping Virginians attain quality, affordable housing. It offers renter education programs, like how to manage money, the application process, and information about the rights and responsibilities of renters.
Salvation Army Hampton Roads Area Command Rental Program
The Salvation Army Hampton Roads Area Command Rental Program helps renters in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake. It helps cover rental delinquencies and the first month’s rent for up to two months. Keep in mind that applicants can only receive assistance from The Salvation Army once every two years.
Northern Virginia Family Services
Northern Virginia Family Services offers a Regional Housing Assistance Program that provides short-term rental assistance for those experiencing unexpected emergencies or health-related issues. Assistance can be granted for up to 21 weeks, but those requesting it must apply monthly. Those living in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church, Loudoun, Prince William, Manassas, and Manassas Park are eligible to apply.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
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