| Index | Virginia Beach | Virginia | National |
| Cost of living | 120 | 111 | 100 |
| Groceries | 106 | 103 | 100 |
| Health care | 107 | 103 | 100 |
| Housing | 152 | 129 | 100 |
| Transportation | 109 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 104 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 103 | 103 | 100 |
| Household Items | 102 | 102 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 113 | 109 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Virginia Beach? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Virginia Beach stands at 120, making it 20% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Virginia Beach, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 51.7% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.
Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 13 residents in Virginia Beach to learn how they view the cost of living. We asked how they felt about the cost of living in their area, and if they thought that prices were increasing, decreasing or staying the same. The verdict? 31% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 69% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.
Is Virginia Beach an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Virginia Beach is 55.2% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 43.4% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Virginia Beach has a median household income of $117,579, which is 44.6% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban hubs brimming with ample amenities and robust employment opportunities often showcase a heightened cost of living. This surge is primarily attributed to the amplified demand for services and increased residential migration, culminating in elevated home prices and elevated rental rates. Conversely, less densely populated rural locales or regions characterized by reduced demand tend to offer a more limited array of amenities and undergo slower job market growth, ultimately yielding a more affordable cost of living.
Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.
Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Virginia Beach, the utilities index registers 2% higher than the national average.
The cost of living estimates displayed for Virginia Beach are modeled using a U.S. average baseline of 100, helping provide a useful comparison of local living expenses. Housing calculations include U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are AI-assisted estimates based on regional cost patterns, climate, transportation, and everyday spending expectations. These values are intended for directional comparisons across cities.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $141,973 | $11,831 | $3,312 | $4,260 |
| Renters | $83,909 | $6,992 | $1,958 | $2,518 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Virginia | 5.3% | 6% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Virginia | 2% | 5.75% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Virginia Beach, VA | 463,341 | 120 | 19.7% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Miami, FL | 470,437 | 129 | 29.0% |
| Halifax, NS | 451,852 | n/a | |
| Long Beach, CA | 480,084 | 162 | 62.4% |
| Laval, QC | 445,050 | n/a | |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 481,855 | 121 | 21.0% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | 463,341 | 120 | 19.7% |
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