Living Cost Compare
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/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 $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,540 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Colorado Springs, CO is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 8% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Colorado Springs, CO
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$998
$1,496
+50% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,305
$1,357
+4% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,504
$1,559
+4% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,881
$1,857
+1% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,700
$366,300
+13% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$83,198
$90,685
+9% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,710
$49,430
+6% in Colorado Springs, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
37.4 yr
+1.8 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
61.3%
64.9%
+3.6 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.9%
40.4%
+1.5 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Avg Commute
22.8 min
23.2 min
+0.4 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
721.1
96.7
+87% in Colorado Springs, CO
Property Crime
3,487.9
1,664.3
+52% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
49.0°F
59.9°F
+10.9°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
16.5 in
44.3 in
+27.8 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.54/gal
$4.30/gal
+5% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: Colorado vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$2.00
+14% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.7
17.1
+2% in Virginia Beach, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.64
$18.75
+61% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.16
+5% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.73
+18% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.19
+3% in Colorado Springs, CO
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.56
+9% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$1.90
+11% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.61
+17% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / VA)
2.9%
5.3%
+2.4 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
5.75%
+1.3 pp in VA

Colorado Springs vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Virginia Beach?
Colorado Springs, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,470 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,540, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or Virginia Beach?
Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).