Home › VA › Virginia Beach, VA Cost of living in Virginia Beach, VA Livability score 68 · cost-of-living index 97.7 (US = 100)
How Virginia Beach compares Where Virginia Beach falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 98 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 98 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $374k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $374k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $187 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $187 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 5.7% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 5.7% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.86% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.86% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 200 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 200 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 17.4 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 17.4 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 87° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 87° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 28° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 28° Map of Virginia Beach Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
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Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 97.7 metro-area #119 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 97.1 metro-area #120 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.56 metro-area #119 of 200 Median household income $77,082 metro-area #71 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $42,750 metro-area #65 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 37.2 years metro-area #62 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 35.1% metro-area #80 of 200 Foreign-born residents 6.8% metro-area #124 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 63.1% metro-area #142 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 5.24% metro-area #108 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +4.7% metro-area #85 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $373,678 metro-area #123 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.8× metro-area #102 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +2.5% metro-area #72 of 200 Price per square foot $187 metro-area #100 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 2,000 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,862 metro-area #144 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 6,920 Median days on market 22 metro-area #128 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 12.5% state #160 of 200 Combined sales tax 5.73% state #12 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 5.75% Capital gains tax 5.75% state #130 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 0.86% metro-area #99 of 200 Median property tax paid $2,547 metro-area #91 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 76.3 years metro-area #108 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,800 state #93 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 7.1% metro-area #67 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 72 metro-area #115 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $15,000 state #141 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $80 state #64 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 3.97% of value (~$1,112/yr) state #197 of 200 Emissions testing Required Emissions detail Required in major metro counties DMV & license offices 5 Avg commute to work 25 min metro-area #110 of 200 Commute by driving alone 75.8% metro-area #108 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 34.7% metro-area #131 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 17.4¢/kWh state #112 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $156 state #112 of 200 Gasoline $3.20/gal state #63 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $78 state #139 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $103 state #97 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $77 state #67 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $1,500 state #51 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,400 state #18 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 61.5 — Relatively Low metro-area #5 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $700 state #61 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 41 metro-area #50 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 1,500 metro-area #110 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 95% state #27 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 3,900 metro-area #102 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 26 metro-area #96 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 0 metro-area #5 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 87°F metro-area #94 of 200 Avg winter low 28°F metro-area #110 of 200 Annual precipitation 49.2" metro-area #153 of 200 Annual snowfall 6.2" metro-area #96 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 60% metro-area #85 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 7a Frost window 04-10 → 11-01
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 200 state #7 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 1,500 state #32 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 32 metro-area #138 of 200 Parks 43 Hiking areas 6 Golf courses 22 Shooting ranges 10 Lakes 3
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 3 state #87 of 200 Permit detail Moderate
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Virginia Beach Major public and private employers in the Virginia Beach, VA area.
Salaries by occupation in Virginia Beach Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $173,820 Marketing Managers $151,380 Pharmacists $140,170 Lawyers $137,090 Financial Managers $136,300 Software Developers $121,110 Physician Assistants $113,740 Data Scientists $105,280 General & Operations Managers $103,020 Mechanical Engineers $100,610 Construction Managers $97,270 Physical Therapists $90,840 Web Developers $89,790 Dental Hygienists $85,990 Registered Nurses $82,540 Civil Engineers $80,400 Accountants & Auditors $75,560 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $63,630 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $62,310 Elementary School Teachers $60,750 Electricians $59,370 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $57,870 Real Estate Sales Agents $56,110 Graphic Designers $56,010 Carpenters $49,300 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $48,150 Medical Assistants $38,830
Find a job in Virginia Beach Cities in the Virginia Beach area Virginia Beach (457,900) → Chesapeake (249,377) → Norfolk (236,973) → Newport News (185,118) → Hampton (137,217) → Portsmouth (97,384) → Suffolk (94,856) → Elizabeth City (18,570) → Williamsburg (15,486) → Poquoson (12,479) → Gloucester Point (11,016) →
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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