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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Strip away assumptions, and something unexpected emerges. 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. That…
#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
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Hampton | 5.75% | 5.77% | 0.75% | $48,719 |
2Newport News | 5.75% | 5.77% | 0.75% | $48,719 |
3Chesapeake | 5.75% | 5.77% | 0.75% | $48,719 |
4Virginia Beach | 5.75% | 5.77% | 0.75% | $48,719 |
5Norfolk | 5.75% | 5.77% | 0.75% | $48,719 |
6Richmond | 5.75% | 5.77% | 0.75% | $48,719 |
7Alexandria | 5.75% | 5.77% | 0.75% | $48,719 |
Strip away assumptions, and something unexpected emerges. 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. That's the kind of affordability that turns 'maybe someday' into 'next month.'
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.
The #1 spot goes to Hampton, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,587/month — we had to double-check this one — — saving renters $3,696 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 93, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Healthcare at 99. A 28% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
Stepping back, Virginia — DC suburbs drive costs; the rest stays affordable. The 7 cities we track here average a cost index of 105 and median income of $79,954. It's a clear buyer's market compared to national norms. The typical rent runs $1,804/month, which is $91 less than the national median.
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.
| 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 |
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.
137,098 residents · Virginia
Why Hampton ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 93 on the cost index, residents save roughly 18% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,587/month while the median household pulls in $67,758/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 93, though Healthcare (99) lags behind. Home prices average $272,161 — $195,209 below the national median.
183,118 residents · Virginia
A closer look at Newport News: the cost index of 93 breaks down to a Housing index of 93 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 99 (weakest). Median rent is $1,596/month — 16% below the national median — while household income sits at $66,718, meaning locals spend about 29% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
253,886 residents · Virginia
What does daily life actually cost in Chesapeake? Start with the 26% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. On the category level, Healthcare (index 103) is where the real savings show up, while Housing (index 117) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $94,189 and homes at $413,755 round out a profile that ranks #3 for clear reasons.
453,649 residents · Virginia
Dive into Virginia Beach's numbers: cost index 114 (3 points above national average), rent $1,953/month, income $90,685, and a home price of $418,508. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Healthcare is the cheapest category at 103, while Housing runs 114. With 453,649 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
230,930 residents · Virginia
Why Norfolk ranks #5: the numbers tell a clear story. At 99 on the cost index, residents save roughly 12% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,696/month while the median household pulls in $64,017/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 99, though Healthcare (100) lags behind. Home prices average $302,742 — $164,628 below the national median.
We divide median home price by median household income for each city in Virginia. A ratio of 3× means a home costs 3 years of gross income — generally considered affordable. Ratios above 5× signal a stretched market. 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.