Living Cost Compare
Charlotte

North Carolina

$1,550/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,540/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,550 in Charlotte, NC versus $1,540 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Virginia Beach, VA is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charlotte, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,438 in Charlotte, NC and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 14% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Charlotte, NC
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$1,424
$1,496
+5% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,374
$1,357
+1% in Charlotte, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,491
$1,559
+5% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,663
$1,857
+12% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$351,500
$366,300
+4% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$78,438
$90,685
+16% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,990
$49,430
+1% in Charlotte, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.4 yr
37.4 yr
+3.0 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
51.5%
64.9%
+13.4 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.4%
40.4%
+7.0 pp in Charlotte, NC
Avg Commute
25.0 min
23.2 min
+1.8 min in Charlotte, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
733.1
96.7
+87% in Charlotte, NC
Property Crime
3,719
1,664.3
+55% in Charlotte, NC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
59.9°F
59.9°F
about equal
Annual Precipitation
41.6 in
44.3 in
+2.7 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$4.30/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.20
$2.00
+9% in Charlotte, NC

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.0
17.1
+7% in Virginia Beach, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.50
$18.75
+7% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.16
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.73
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.56
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.61
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NC / VA)
4.75%
5.3%
+0.5 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.99%
5.75%
+1.8 pp in VA

Charlotte vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charlotte or Virginia Beach?
Virginia Beach, VA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,540 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Charlotte, NC's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charlotte than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Charlotte versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Charlotte or Virginia Beach?
Charlotte is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).