CostIndexUSA

Lynchburg, VA vs Modesto, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableVA
Lynchburg
89.4
overall index
$1,300/mo rent
CA
Modesto
104.1
overall index
$2,100/mo rent

Lynchburg is significantly cheaper than Modesto — 16.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lynchburg, you would need $93,200 in Modesto. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+69.8%
Lynchburg
63.9
Modesto
108.5
🛒 Groceries+8.7%
Lynchburg
96.8
Modesto
105.2
🚗 Transportation+1.7%
Lynchburg
103.5
Modesto
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+1.7%
Lynchburg
93.7
Modesto
95.3
Utilities+73.5%
Lynchburg
87.8
Modesto
152.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Lynchburg to see what you'd need to earn in Modesto to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Modesto, CA
$93,200
$13,200 more needed in Modesto

Formula: salary × (104.1 ÷ 89.4) = salary × 1.1644. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lynchburg, VA

Median Home Price
$277,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
63.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.8×

Modesto, CA

Median Home Price
$457,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,100
Housing Index
108.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.1×

Modesto has 69.8% higher housing costs compared to Lynchburg.

Income & Job Market

Lynchburg, VA

Median Household Income
$67,100
Per Capita Income
$38,200
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
82,168
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingRetailGovernment

Modesto, CA

Median Household Income
$82,800
Per Capita Income
$47,200
Unemployment Rate
6.6%
Population
218,464
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailEducation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Lynchburg, VA
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

Modesto, CA
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.