What does a Accountants and Auditors salary really buy you in Virginia?
Virginia is 2.1% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-02
Virginia's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 102.1, meaning prices are 2.1% higher the national average. A Accountants and Auditors earning $81,590 in Virginia has the equivalent purchasing power of $79,911 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Virginia's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $51,900 | $50,832 | $-1,067 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $63,500 | $62,193 | $-1,306 |
| Median (P50) | $81,590 | $79,911 | $-1,678 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $106,400 | $104,211 | $-2,188 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $140,360 | $137,473 | $-2,886 |
Virginia's cost of living is close to the national average, so $81,590 keeps most of its value at $79,911 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.
Where does Accountants and Auditors salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Virginia ranks #23 out of 51 states for Accountants and Auditors after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
How much do you actually take home? See Accountants and Auditors take-home pay in Virginia after taxes →
A Accountants and Auditors in Virginia earns a median salary of $81,590 per year. After adjusting for Virginia's cost of living (RPP=102.1), the real purchasing power is $79,911 — a -2.1% difference.
Virginia's cost of living is 2.1% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Virginia is 102.1 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Accountants and Auditors in Virginia: $81,590 x (100 / 102.1) = $79,911. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Accountants and Auditors's nominal salary of $81,590 in Virginia has 2.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $79,911. However, Virginia may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.