Living Cost Compare
Anchorage

Alaska

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,550/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,320 in Anchorage, AK versus $1,550 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Anchorage, AK is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 8% higher in Anchorage, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$1,001
$1,496
+49% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,052
$1,357
+29% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,433
$1,559
+9% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,952
$1,857
+5% in Anchorage, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$375,900
$366,300
+3% in Anchorage, AK

Income

Median Household Income
$98,152
$90,685
+8% in Anchorage, AK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,200
$49,430
+18% in Anchorage, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
37.4 yr
+2.5 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
63.7%
64.9%
+1.2 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.7%
40.4%
+2.7 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Avg Commute
19.0 min
23.2 min
+4.2 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,016.5
96.9
+90% in Anchorage, AK
Property Crime
2,796.2
1,664.9
+40% in Anchorage, AK

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
37.4°F
59.9°F
+22.5°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
17.9 in
44.3 in
+26.4 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$3.86/gal
+24% in Anchorage, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.2
17.6
+38% in Anchorage, AK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.40
$23.66
+64% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Anchorage, AK
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Anchorage, AK
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Virginia Beach, VA
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Anchorage, AK
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Anchorage, AK
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Anchorage, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / VA)
None
5.3%
+5.3 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
None
5.75%
+5.8 pp in VA

Anchorage vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Virginia Beach?
Anchorage, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Virginia Beach?
Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no 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).