Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Virginia Beach?

Virginia Beach, VA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,560 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.

Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Virginia Beach?

Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax).

Cambridge vs Virginia Beach Cost of Living 2026

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,560/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,810 in Cambridge, MA versus $1,560 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Virginia Beach, VA is roughly 44% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 28% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA

Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio

$2,236

$1,496

+33% in Cambridge, MA

1 Bedroom

$2,496

$1,357

+46% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,980

$1,559

+48% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$3,325

$1,857

+44% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$1,040,500

$366,300

+65% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$126,469

$90,685

+28% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

$49,430

+26% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

30.5 yr

37.4 yr

+6.9 yr in Virginia Beach, VA

Homeownership

33.7%

64.9%

+31.2 pp in Virginia Beach, VA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

80.2%

40.4%

+39.8 pp in Cambridge, MA

Avg Commute

26.1 min

23.2 min

+2.9 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

436.7

96.9

+78% in Cambridge, MA

Property Crime

2,657.6

1,664.9

+37% in Cambridge, MA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

51.5°F

59.9°F

+8.4°F in Virginia Beach, VA

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

44.3 in

+0.5 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.07/gal

$3.94/gal

+3% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

17.2

+42% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.66

$27.20

+11% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Cambridge, MA

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Cambridge, MA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Virginia Beach, VA

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Cambridge, MA

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Cambridge, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Cambridge, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / VA)

6.25%

5.3%

+1.0 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

5.75%

+3.3 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Virginia Beach?: Virginia Beach, VA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,560 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Virginia Beach?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Virginia Beach?: Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).