Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Virginia Beach?

Virginia Beach, VA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,540 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Atlanta, GA's $1,740, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.

Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Virginia Beach?

Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax).

Atlanta vs Virginia Beach Cost of Living 2026

Atlanta

Georgia

$1,740/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 $1,740 in Atlanta, GA versus $1,540 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Virginia Beach, VA is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 10% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA

Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio

$1,669

$1,496

+10% in Atlanta, GA

1 Bedroom

$1,576

$1,357

+14% in Atlanta, GA

2 Bedroom

$1,701

$1,559

+8% in Atlanta, GA

3 Bedroom

$1,557

$1,857

+19% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$420,600

$366,300

+13% in Atlanta, GA

Income

Median Household Income

$81,938

$90,685

+11% in Virginia Beach, VA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,170

$49,430

+3% in Atlanta, GA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.0 yr

37.4 yr

+3.4 yr in Virginia Beach, VA

Homeownership

46.3%

64.9%

+18.6 pp in Virginia Beach, VA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.4%

40.4%

+18.0 pp in Atlanta, GA

Avg Commute

26.8 min

23.2 min

+3.6 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

603.5

96.7

+84% in Atlanta, GA

Property Crime

3,548.3

1,664.3

+53% in Atlanta, GA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

62.6°F

59.9°F

+2.7°F in Atlanta, GA

Annual Precipitation

49.7 in

44.3 in

+5.4 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.30/gal

about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.50

$2.00

+20% in Atlanta, GA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.0

17.1

+14% in Virginia Beach, VA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.41

$18.75

+2% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.73

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / VA)

5.3%

+1.3 pp in VA

Income Tax (top rate)

5.19%

5.75%

+0.6 pp in VA

Atlanta vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Virginia Beach?: Virginia Beach, VA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,540 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Atlanta, GA's $1,740, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Virginia Beach?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Virginia Beach?: Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% 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).