Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Ohio

$1,250/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 $1,250 in Columbus, OH versus $1,540 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Columbus, OH is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,327 in Columbus, OH and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 28% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Columbus, OH
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$1,014
$1,496
+48% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,059
$1,357
+28% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,276
$1,559
+22% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,369
$1,857
+36% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$234,500
$366,300
+56% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$65,327
$90,685
+39% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,340
$49,430
+4% in Columbus, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
37.4 yr
+4.4 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
44.3%
64.9%
+20.6 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.2%
40.4%
+2.2 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Avg Commute
21.8 min
23.2 min
+1.4 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
484.8
96.7
+80% in Columbus, OH
Property Crime
3,092.7
1,664.3
+46% in Columbus, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
59.9°F
+7.2°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
40.1 in
44.3 in
+4.2 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.56/gal
$4.30/gal
+6% in Columbus, OH

Area: Ohio vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$2.00
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.8
17.1
+9% in Columbus, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.75
$18.75
+36% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.16
+1% in Virginia Beach, VA
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$1.73
+3% in Columbus, OH
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Columbus, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$6.56
+6% in Columbus, OH
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$1.90
+12% in Columbus, OH
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.61
+3% in Columbus, OH

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / VA)
5.75%
5.3%
+0.5 pp in OH
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
5.75%
+3.0 pp in VA

Columbus vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Virginia Beach?
Columbus, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,540, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus 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 Columbus versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Virginia Beach?
Columbus is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).