Living Cost Compare
Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,550/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,260 in Eugene, OR versus $1,550 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Eugene, OR is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,836 in Eugene, OR and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 30% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Eugene, OR
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$1,011
$1,496
+48% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,080
$1,357
+26% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,411
$1,559
+10% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,674
$1,857
+11% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$435,400
$366,300
+16% in Eugene, OR

Income

Median Household Income
$63,836
$90,685
+42% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,680
$49,430
+1% in Eugene, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.4 yr
37.4 yr
+2.0 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
47.6%
64.9%
+17.3 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.2%
40.4%
+3.8 pp in Eugene, OR
Avg Commute
18.6 min
23.2 min
+4.6 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.6
96.9
+70% in Eugene, OR
Property Crime
3,348.9
1,664.9
+50% in Eugene, OR

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.5°F
59.9°F
+7.4°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
46.1 in
44.3 in
+1.8 in in Eugene, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$3.86/gal
+24% in Eugene, OR

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.3
17.6
+8% in Virginia Beach, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.59
$23.66
+15% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Eugene, OR
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Eugene, OR
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Virginia Beach, VA
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Eugene, OR
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Eugene, OR
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Eugene, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OR / VA)
None
5.3%
+5.3 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
9.90%
5.75%
+4.2 pp in OR

Eugene vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Virginia Beach?
Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Eugene than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Eugene or Virginia Beach?
Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).