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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
This is one of the closest races in our database: the top 5 cities are separated by just 6 points on the cost index. Hampton, Newport News, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Norfolk are all within striking distance. At this margin, secondary factors — taxes, rent trends, category-specific costs — become t…
This is one of the closest races in our database: the top 5 cities are separated by just 6 points on the cost index. Hampton, Newport News, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Norfolk are all within striking distance. At this margin, secondary factors — taxes, rent trends, category-specific costs — become the tiebreakers. Here's the full breakdown.
Forget what you've heard — the data paints a different picture. Top 5 separated by only 6 points. The race is tight: Hampton, Newport News, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Norfolk are all within 6 points of each other. At this level, differences in rent, taxes, or a single category can sway the decision. At this level, the city practically pays for your move.
A closer look at Hampton: the cost index of 93 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — breaks down to a Housing index of 93 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 99 (weakest). Median rent is $1,587/month — 16% below the national median — while household income sits at $67,758, meaning locals spend about 28% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
The 3.5× rule is a conservative benchmark: lenders often approve up to 4-5× income, but 3.5× keeps monthly payments safely under 28% of gross income at typical rates. On $60K, that means targeting homes under $210,000. Hampton offers a median home at $272,161 — a 4.5× ratio with room to spare.
Hard to argue with that. Not even close to the national average.
What makes this tricky: Here's the state-level backdrop: Virginia averages a 105 cost index, $1,804/mo rent, and $79,954 income across 7 cities. That's $91 less than the national rent average. DC suburbs drive costs; the rest stays affordable — and that context shapes every city in this ranking.
Bottom line: Hampton leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
#1 Ranked: Hampton — cost index 93, rent $1,587/mo, income $67,758
Top 5 separated by only 6 points
4 of 7 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
137,098 residents · Virginia
Here's Hampton by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 93. Rent: $1,587/month. Income: $67,758/year. Home price: $272,161. Population: 137,098. The strongest category is Housing at 93; the most expensive is Healthcare at 99. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $3,696 per year vs. the national median. If you're debt-free, those savings go straight to building wealth.
183,118 residents · Virginia
Dive into Newport News's numbers: cost index 93 (18 points below national average), rent $1,596/month, income $66,718, and a home price of $287,123. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 93, while Healthcare runs 99. With 183,118 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
253,886 residents · Virginia
The #3 spot goes to Chesapeake, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $2,002/month — we had to double-check this one — — costing renters $1,284 more per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Healthcare is the standout at index 103, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 117. A 26% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
453,649 residents · Virginia
Why Virginia Beach ranks #4: the numbers tell a clear story. At 114 on the cost index, residents spend roughly 3% more than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,953/month while the median household pulls in $90,685/year. The Healthcare category is particularly strong at 103, though Housing (114) lags behind. Home prices average $418,508 — $48,862 below the national median.
230,930 residents · Virginia
Norfolk comes in at #5. Rent is $1,696 a month. Household income is $64,017. The cost of living index is 99. About what you'd guess.
The race is tight: Hampton, Newport News, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Norfolk are all within 6 points of each other. At this level, differences in rent, taxes, or a single category can sway the decision.
Rent in #1-ranked Hampton has increased from $1,527 to $1,587/mo over the past 12 months — a 4% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hampton | 93 | $1,587 | Details |
| 2 | Newport News | 93 | $1,596 | Details |
| 3 | Chesapeake | 117 | $2,002 | Details |
| 4 | Virginia Beach | 114 | $1,953 | Details |
| 5 | Norfolk | 99 | $1,696 | Details |
| 6 | Richmond | 92 | $1,574 | Details |
| 7 | Alexandria | 130 | $2,223 | Details |
We rank cities by their home-price-to-income ratio (median home price ÷ median household income). A lower ratio means homes are more attainable relative to local earnings. The standard benchmark is 3-5×; above 5× is considered stretched. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Hampton ranks #1 in Virginia for this analysis with a cost index of 93 and median income of $67,758.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Hampton (ranked #1) has a cost index of 93 and rent of $1,587/mo, while Alexandria (ranked #7) has a cost index of 130 and rent of $2,223/mo — a 37-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Hampton is $1,587/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $308 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Hampton is $272,161, which is 4.0× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. The national median home price is $467,370.
Virginia has a 5.75% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 5.77%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.75%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.