What is the cost of living in Virginia Beach, VA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Virginia Beach has an overall cost of living index of 118, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Virginia, Virginia Beach has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Virginia's index of 112.
The standard of living in Virginia Beach ranks as #75 most affordable out of the 188 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies Virginia Beach ranks as the #113 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.
For more reading on life in Virginia Beach, check out:
Virginia Beach Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Virginia Beach. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Virginia Beach is 104.
The Groceries index in Virginia Beach is 109.
The Health index in Virginia Beach is 150.
The Housing index in Virginia Beach is 109.
The Transportation index in Virginia Beach is 103.
The Utilities index in Virginia Beach is 104.
| Living Expense | Virginia Beach | Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 118 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 109 | 104 | 100 |
| Health | 150 | 131 | 100 |
| Housing | 109 | 105 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 104 | 100 |
Virginia Beach Cost Of Living Compared To Virginia Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Virginia, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Virginia Beach Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Virginia Beach, VA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Virginia, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Virginia Beach is $427,031.
The Median Rent in Virginia Beach is $1,714.
The Median Income in Virginia Beach is $92,968.
The Home Value To Income in Virginia Beach is 4.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Virginia Beach is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Virginia Beach | Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $427,031 | $412,467 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,714 | $1,579 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $92,968 | $93,170 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.6x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Virginia Beach, VA Costs By Category
Detailed Virginia Beach Services costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Virginia Beach | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.26 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.31 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.17 | $18 |
| Haircut | $20.0 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $54.17 | $45.56 |
Detailed Virginia Beach Groceries costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Virginia Beach | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.54 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.44 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.63 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.27 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.72 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.64 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.72 | $3.7 |
Detailed Virginia Beach Health costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Virginia Beach | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $95.44 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $122.83 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $109.67 | $113.29 |
Detailed Virginia Beach Transportation costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Virginia Beach | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.27 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Virginia Beach Utilities costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Virginia Beach | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $227.22 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.33 | $192.25 |
Virginia Beach SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Virginia Beach
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Virginia Beach. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Chesapeake, VA has a cost of living index of 117, 1.0x Virginia Beach.
Norfolk, VA has a cost of living index of 109, 0.9x Virginia Beach.
Newport News, VA has a cost of living index of 103, 0.9x Virginia Beach.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Virginia Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chesapeake, VA | 252,583 | 117 | 1.0x |
| Norfolk, VA | 233,596 | 109 | 0.9x |
| Newport News, VA | 184,216 | 103 | 0.9x |
| Hampton, VA | 137,557 | 107 | 0.9x |
| Elizabeth, NJ | 137,302 | 125 | 1.1x |
| Suffolk, VA | 98,796 | 116 | 1.0x |
| Portsmouth, VA | 97,190 | 104 | 0.9x |
| Poquoson, VA | 12,639 | 125 | 1.1x |
| Gloucester Point, VA | 11,109 | 110 | 0.9x |
| Smithfield, VA | 8,834 | 116 | 1.0x |
