What it costs to live and work in Virginia: the minimum wage, state income tax, sales tax and median rent, from official sources, and what they mean for your monthly budget.
| Virginia | Source | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage | $12.77 an hour | Code of Virginia § 40.1-28.10, Minimum wage |
| State income tax | 2 % to 5.75 % | Tax Foundation: State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026 |
| State sales tax | 5.3 % | Tax Foundation: State and Local Sales Tax Rates, 2026 (rates as of January 1, 2026) |
| Median gross rent | $1,646 a month (2024) | US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table B25064 Median Gross Rent (Dollars), by state |
Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 an hour in 2026; by law it rises to $13.75 on January 1, 2027 and $15.00 on January 1, 2028.
Four rates from 2 % to 5.75 %; the top rate starts at taxable income over $17,000, so most workers pay it.
The statewide rate is 5.3 %, which includes a 1 % local tax levied everywhere; some regions add more (average local rate 0.47 %).
What income does rent in Virginia take?
A common rule of thumb is to keep rent at or below 30 % of gross income. At the median rent of $1,646 a month, that means a household income of about $65,800 a year before tax.
Good to know
- Food for home consumption is taxed at a reduced 1 % throughout Virginia (Virginia Department of Taxation).
- Minimum wage steps fixed in the Code of Virginia: $13.75 in 2027, $15.00 in 2028, then indexed to inflation from 2029.
Sources
- US Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division: State Minimum Wage Laws (2026-07-01)
- Tax Foundation: State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026 (2026-02-19)
- Tax Foundation: State and Local Sales Tax Rates, 2026 (rates as of January 1, 2026) (2026-07-06)
- US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table B25064 Median Gross Rent (Dollars), by state (2024)
- Code of Virginia § 40.1-28.10, Minimum wage (2026)
- Virginia Department of Taxation: Grocery Tax (2026-10-11)