How much does it cost to rent in Alexandria, VA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Alexandria, VA is $2,318. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Alexandria cheaper than other Virginia cities?

Alexandria is one of the pricier cities in Virginia, ranking #26 out of 83 cities tracked at $2,318/mo.

When was Alexandria rent data last updated?

Alexandria rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · VA

Alexandria

Name: Average Rent Prices in Alexandria, VA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 156,976·26th most expensive in Virginia·Rental market data updated monthly for Alexandria, VA

Median rent (all units)

$2,318/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.7%

Month-over-Month

+1.2%

vs US Median

+$353

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Alexandria · $2,318

More expensive than 73% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

46/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Alexandria's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$2,318/mo

Expected by trend

$2,277/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Alexandria's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,249

1 BR

$2,297

2 BR

$2,584

3 BR

$3,231

4 BR+

$3,810

Research median

$2,584/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$27,816/yr

At $2,318/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.7% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.7% YoY, +1.2% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Alexandria, VA is majority renter-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 66.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

156,976

Median income

$119,681

Median age

37.7

Renters

57.9%

Age distribution

18.1%

25.8%

32%

13%

Under 1818.1%

18–3425.8%

35–5432%

55–6411.1%

65+13%

Gender

48.5%

51.5%

Male48.5%

Female51.5%

Race & ethnicity

51%

21.3%

18.3%

White51%

Black21.3%

Hispanic18.3%

Asian6.4%

Other2.9%

Education (25+)

16.2%

66.2%

No HS diploma7%

HS diploma10.7%

Some college16.2%

Bachelor's+66.2%

Housing tenure

42.1%

57.9%

Owner42.1%

Renter57.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Alexandria, VA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,781 → $2,318

up 30.2%

Income

$105,450 → $119,681

up 13.5%

Population

158,185 → 156,976

down 0.8%

Renter share

57.1% → 57.9%

+0.8 pts

Bachelor's+

65.2% → 66.2%

+1.0 pts

Median age

37.1 → 37.7

+0.6 yrs

Five years ago, renters in Alexandria, VA paid around $1,781 a month. That figure now sits near $2,318, up 30.2% from the 2021 baseline. Median household income climbed from $105,450 to $119,681 between 2021 and 2024, a 13.5% shift. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in Alexandria, VA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about Alexandria

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View Alexandria rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Alexandria on your salary?

At $2,318/mo, how Alexandria rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $96,370/yr · Rent = 28.9% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $68,422/yr · Rent = 40.7% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $78,815/yr · Rent = 35.3% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $140,872/yr · Rent = 19.7% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $179,999/yr · Rent = 15.5% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $64,066/yr · Rent = 43.4% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $57,844/yr · Rent = 48.1% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $71,298/yr · Rent = 39% income

stretched

By apartment size

Alexandria rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Alexandria. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Alexandria

About renting in Alexandria, VA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Alexandria is $2,318/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,249/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,584/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,297/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,231/mo.

At 23% of local median household income ($119,681/yr), Alexandria ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Alexandria an affordable city for renters?

Alexandria is considered very affordable for renters. At $2,318/mo, rent takes approximately 23% of the local median household income ($119,681/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Alexandria falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Alexandria?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $93,000/year (~$45/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,318/mo in Alexandria. The local median household income is $119,681/yr, meaning the typical Alexandria household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Alexandria?

Rent in Alexandria has increased 3.7% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Alexandria neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Alexandria are 22311 ($1,806/mo), 22304 ($2,029/mo), and 22306 ($2,044/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Alexandria is $2,318/mo.

How does Alexandria rent compare to other cities in Virginia?

Alexandria is one of the pricier cities in Virginia for rent, ranking #26 out of 83 tracked cities at $2,318/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Alexandria?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Alexandria ($2,318/mo): Lincolnia ($2,156/mo), Huntington ($2,202/mo).

What percentage of Alexandria residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 57.9% of Alexandria households are renters, while 42.1% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Alexandria has a strong rental market.

How does Alexandria rent compare to the national average?

Alexandria's median rent of $2,318/mo is $353 (18%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Virginia, it ranks #26 out of 83 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

23%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $2,318/mo, rent takes ~23% of Alexandria's median household income ($119,681/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Alexandria 23%Benchmark 30%

State income tax2–5.75%

Run the Alexandria affordability calculator →

Nearby cities