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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Put it this way: High income and low costs rarely coexist — but Virginia Beach pulls it off. No major red flags in that number. At $90,685 median household income and a 110 cost index, residents enjoy purchasing power that 15% exceeds the national average. We found this pattern across 7 cities in Vi…
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia Beach | 110 | $1,953 | Details |
| 2 | Chesapeake | 111 | $2,002 | Details |
| 3 | Norfolk | 101 | $1,696 | Details |
| 4 | Newport News | 99 | $1,596 | Details |
| 5 | Alexandria | 126 | $2,223 | Details |
| 6 | Hampton | 98 | $1,587 | Details |
| 7 | Richmond | 102 | $1,574 | Details |
#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
Put it this way: High income and low costs rarely coexist — but Virginia Beach pulls it off. No major red flags in that number. At $90,685 median household income and a 110 cost index, residents enjoy purchasing power that 15% exceeds the national average. We found this pattern across 7 cities in Virginia using 2026 data.
Virginia Beach earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. And as far as the data shows, the 110 cost index sits 2 points below the national baseline, and the $90,685 median income means purchasing power here is genuinely above average. Homes list at $418,508 — $48,862 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. You get the picture. On the cost side, Utilities leads the way at 102, while Housing trails at 126.
Frankly, Perhaps more importantly, 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 12-month trend chart is where this ranking comes alive.
In plain English: 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.
| 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 |
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.
453,649 residents · Virginia
Real talk: 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. Income is $90,685. Not the most exciting stat, but it matters. That's about what we'd expect given the state context. Solidly above average.
253,886 residents · Virginia
In plain English: a closer look at Chesapeake: the cost index of 111 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
The #3 spot goes to Norfolk, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,696/month — saving renters $2,388 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 93, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Healthcare at 104. The 32% rent-to-income ratio is a pressure point — for median earners, housing takes more than recommended (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
183,118 residents · Virginia
So, Newport News. Cost index of 99, rent at $1,596/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $66,718, which is below the national median. Fairly typical for a city this size. Solidly above average.
155,230 residents · Virginia
The #5 spot goes to Alexandria, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $2,223/month — costing renters $3,936 more per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 116, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 165. You get the picture. At a 23% rent-to-income ratio, there's genuine breathing room in the average household budget. The definition of value.
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.