Is it cheaper to live in Anaheim or Virginia Beach?

Virginia Beach, VA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,540 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Anaheim, CA's $2,090, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Anaheim than in Virginia Beach?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $71,000 a year in Anaheim versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.

Which has lower taxes, Anaheim or Virginia Beach?

Anaheim is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax).

Anaheim vs Virginia Beach Cost of Living 2026

Anaheim

California

$2,090/mo est.

Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,540/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,090 in Anaheim, CA versus $1,540 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Virginia Beach, VA is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anaheim, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,583 in Anaheim, CA and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Anaheim, CA

Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio

$1,929

$1,496

+22% in Anaheim, CA

1 Bedroom

$1,764

$1,357

+23% in Anaheim, CA

2 Bedroom

$2,171

$1,559

+28% in Anaheim, CA

3 Bedroom

$2,653

$1,857

+30% in Anaheim, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$771,700

$366,300

+53% in Anaheim, CA

Income

Median Household Income

$90,583

$90,685

+0% in Virginia Beach, VA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$55,850

$49,430

+11% in Anaheim, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.9 yr

37.4 yr

+1.5 yr in Virginia Beach, VA

Homeownership

45.9%

64.9%

+19.0 pp in Virginia Beach, VA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.8%

40.4%

+11.6 pp in Virginia Beach, VA

Avg Commute

28.2 min

23.2 min

+5.0 min in Anaheim, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

597.4

96.7

+84% in Anaheim, CA

Property Crime

2,234.6

1,664.3

+26% in Anaheim, CA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

67.1°F

59.9°F

+7.2°F in Anaheim, CA

Annual Precipitation

13.4 in

44.3 in

+30.9 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.89/gal

$4.30/gal

+27% in Anaheim, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

about equal

Adult base one-way fare — OCTA vs HRT (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

33.4

17.1

+49% in Anaheim, CA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.72

$18.75

+10% in Anaheim, CA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

$4.16

+5% in Anaheim, CA

Bread (lb)

$2.10

$1.73

+18% in Anaheim, CA

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

$2.19

+3% in Anaheim, CA

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

$6.56

+9% in Anaheim, CA

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

$1.90

+11% in Anaheim, CA

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

$0.61

+17% in Anaheim, CA

Average prices — West vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / VA)

7.25%

5.3%

+2.0 pp in CA

Income Tax (top rate)

13.30%

5.75%

+7.6 pp in CA

Anaheim vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anaheim or Virginia Beach?: Virginia Beach, VA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,540 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Anaheim, CA's $2,090, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anaheim than in Virginia Beach?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $71,000 a year in Anaheim versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Anaheim or Virginia Beach?: Anaheim is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).