Virginia

Living wage in Richmond, Virginia

Most of Richmond is in Richmond city, where a full-time job needs to pay at least $51.82 an hour before taxes to take home four times the typical studio rent.

Pay needed, before taxes$51.82/hrRichmond city standard
At Richmond's middle rent$47.18/hrstudio rent $1,420 a month
Check a job's pay hereAll the numbers for Richmond city

Across the 26 ZIP codes in Richmond with HUD rent figures, studio rents run from $1,300 to $1,800 a month. At the middle rent, $1,420, a full-time job would need to pay $47.18 an hour before taxes.

Parts of Richmond are also in Chesterfield County, Henrico County.

ZIP codes in Richmond

What the standard would be at each ZIP code's own studio rent. The calculator and the official standard use the county figure.

ZIPCountyStudio rentPay needed
23173Henrico County$1,570/mo$52.98/hr
23218Richmond city$1,400/mo$46.40/hr
23219Richmond city$1,540/mo$51.82/hr
23220Richmond city$1,750/mo$59.95/hr
23221Richmond city$1,700/mo$58.01/hr
23222Richmond city$1,300/mo$42.53/hr
23223Richmond city$1,370/mo$45.24/hr
23224Richmond city$1,310/mo$42.92/hr
23225Richmond city$1,440/mo$47.95/hr
23226Richmond city$1,800/mo$61.88/hr
23227Henrico County$1,360/mo$44.86/hr
23230Richmond city$1,620/mo$54.92/hr
23232Richmond city$1,400/mo$46.40/hr
23234Chesterfield County$1,340/mo$44.08/hr
23235Chesterfield County$1,680/mo$57.24/hr
23236Chesterfield County$1,780/mo$61.11/hr
23237Chesterfield County$1,370/mo$45.24/hr
23241Richmond city$1,400/mo$46.40/hr
23250Henrico County$1,530/mo$51.44/hr
23260Richmond city$1,400/mo$46.40/hr
23261Richmond city$1,400/mo$46.40/hr
23284Richmond city$1,630/mo$55.31/hr
23286Richmond city$1,400/mo$46.40/hr
23293Richmond city$1,400/mo$46.40/hr
23297Chesterfield County$1,600/mo$54.14/hr
23298Richmond city$1,540/mo$51.82/hr

Questions

How much do you need to make to live in Richmond, Virginia?

Under the Four Times Rent standard, a full-time job in Richmond needs to pay at least $51.82 an hour before taxes, about $107,790 a year. That is the figure for Richmond city, where the typical studio rent is $1,540 a month.

Does it vary by neighborhood?

Yes. Across the 26 ZIP codes in Richmond with HUD rent figures, studio rents run from $1,300 to $1,800 a month. At the middle rent of $1,420, the pay needed would be $47.18 an hour.

How does that compare with the minimum wage?

The minimum wage in Richmond city is $12.77 an hour. The Four Times Rent standard there is 4.1 times that.

The Four Times Rent standard: a month of full-time work (160 hours) should take home at least four times the typical rent on a studio apartment in the county where the work is done. Rents: HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents. Taxes: 2026 federal and state income taxes plus Social Security and Medicare, for a single filer. Why four times rent? · Method and data downloads