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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The income-cost paradox: Virginia Beach pays $90,685 — 13% above the national median — while costing just 110 on the index. Only 36 of 288 tracked cities share this unusual profile. Here's the full 7-city ranking for 2026.
The income-cost paradox: Virginia Beach pays $90,685 — 13% above the national median — while costing just 110 on the index. Only 36 of 288 tracked cities share this unusual profile. Here's the full 7-city ranking for 2026.
The #1 spot goes to Virginia Beach, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,953/month — costing renters $696 more per year compared to the national average. That's about what we'd expect given the state context. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 102, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 126. A 26% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
And here's the trade-off: State context matters: Virginia's 7 cities average a 107 cost index with $1,804/month median rent and $79,954 household income. DC suburbs drive costs; the rest stays affordable. The table is nice. That's about what we'd expect given the state context. The insights below it are nicer. Not flashy. Just effective.
Bottom line: Virginia Beach 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: Virginia Beach — cost index 110, rent $1,953/mo, income $90,685
Virginia Beach: high income, low cost — a rare combo
6 of 7 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
453,649 residents · Virginia
At $1,953/month for rent and a cost index of 110, Virginia Beach is pretty much what you'd expect from a mid-size city in this part of the country. It's fine. Not great, not bad. Income is $90,685. That's more or less in line with the region. Quietly competitive.
253,886 residents · Virginia
A closer look at Chesapeake: the cost index of 111 — for better or worse — breaks down to a Utilities index of 102 (strongest category) and a Housing index of 127 (weakest). Median rent is $2,002/month — 6% above the national median — while household income sits at $94,189, meaning locals spend about 26% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
230,930 residents · Virginia
Here's Norfolk by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 101. Rent: $1,696/month. Income: $64,017/year. Home price: $302,742. Population: 230,930. The strongest category is Utilities at 93; the most expensive is Healthcare at 104. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $2,388 per year vs. the national median. This alone could tip the scales.
183,118 residents · Virginia
What does daily life actually cost in Newport News? Start with the 29% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. On the category level, Utilities (index 91) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 102) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $66,718 and homes at $287,123 round out a profile that ranks #4 for clear reasons.
155,230 residents · Virginia
Here's Alexandria by the numbers — and there's a lot to like. Cost index: 126. Rent: $2,223/month. Income: $113,638/year. Home price: $665,724. Population: 155,230. The strongest category is Utilities at 116; the most expensive is Housing at 165. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are costing renters $3,936 more per year vs. the national median. Even in a down market, this kind of cost structure protects household budgets.
Virginia Beach earns above the national median ($90,685 vs $80,367) while keeping costs below average (index 110 vs 112). That combination is exceptionally rare — only 36 of 288 cities share it.
Rent in #1-ranked Virginia Beach has increased from $1,869 to $1,953/mo over the past 12 months — a 4% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
| Rank | City | Combined Rate | Income Tax | Sales Tax | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia Beach | 12.3% | 5.75% | 5.77% | 110 | Details |
| 2 | Chesapeake | 12.3% | 5.75% | 5.77% | 111 | Details |
| 3 | Norfolk | 12.3% | 5.75% | 5.77% | 101 | Details |
| 4 | Newport News | 12.3% | 5.75% | 5.77% | 99 | Details |
| 5 | Alexandria | 12.3% | 5.75% | 5.77% | 126 | Details |
| 6 | Hampton | 12.3% | 5.75% | 5.77% | 98 | Details |
| 7 | Richmond | 12.3% | 5.75% | 5.77% | 102 | Details |
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Virginia Beach | 5.75% | 5.77% | 0.75% | $63,530 |
2Chesapeake | 5.75% | 5.77% | 0.75% | $63,530 |
3Norfolk | 5.75% | 5.77% | 0.75% | $63,530 |
4Newport News | 5.75% | 5.77% | 0.75% | $63,530 |
5Alexandria | 5.75% | 5.77% | 0.75% | $63,530 |
6Hampton | 5.75% | 5.77% | 0.75% | $63,530 |
7Richmond | 5.75% | 5.77% | 0.75% | $63,530 |
We combine state income tax rate, combined sales tax (state + local), and effective property tax rate into a total tax burden score. Cities are ranked by this combined metric — lower is better for your wallet. 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.
Virginia Beach ranks #1 in Virginia for this analysis with a cost index of 110 and median income of $90,685.
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.
Virginia Beach (ranked #1) has a cost index of 110 and rent of $1,953/mo, while Richmond (ranked #7) has a cost index of 102 and rent of $1,574/mo — a 8-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 Virginia Beach is $1,953/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $58 above the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Virginia Beach is $418,508, which is 4.6× 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.