Retirees Cost of Living Guide: Virginia (2026)

What does daily life actually cost in Hampton? Start with the 28% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. On the category level, Housing (index 93) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 99) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $67,758 — for better or worse — and homes at $272,161 round out a profile that ranks #2 for clear reasons (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).

Real talk: a closer look at Richmond: the cost index of 92 breaks down to a Housing index of 92 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 98 (weakest). Moving on. Median rent is $1,574/month — 17% below the national median — while household income sits at $62,671, meaning locals spend about 30% of income on rent. That exceeds the recommended 30% threshold — affordability here depends on earning above the median.

What does daily life actually cost in Virginia Beach? 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 114) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $90,685 and homes at $418,508 round out a profile that ranks #4 for clear reasons.

Here's Chesapeake by the numbers — and there's a lot to like. Cost index: 117. Rent: $2,002/month — make of that what you will — . Income: $94,189/year. Home price: $413,755. Population: 253,886. The strongest category is Healthcare at 103; the most expensive is Housing at 117. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are costing renters $1,284 more per year vs. the national median. The delta here is big enough to fund a retirement account.