Living Cost Compare
Green Bay

Wisconsin

$920/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 $920 in Green Bay, WI versus $1,550 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Green Bay, WI is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,546 in Green Bay, WI and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 31% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Green Bay, WI
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$707
$1,496
+112% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$730
$1,357
+86% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$956
$1,559
+63% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,287
$1,857
+44% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$191,500
$366,300
+91% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$62,546
$90,685
+45% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,940
$49,430
+1% in Green Bay, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
37.4 yr
+1.7 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
55.9%
64.9%
+9.0 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
25.5%
40.4%
+14.9 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Avg Commute
18.9 min
23.2 min
+4.3 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
501.7
96.9
+81% in Green Bay, WI
Property Crime
1,331.2
1,664.9
+25% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
44.3°F
59.9°F
+15.6°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
29.5 in
44.3 in
+14.8 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Green Bay, WI

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.7
17.6
+11% in Green Bay, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.79
$23.66
+101% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Green Bay, WI
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Virginia Beach, VA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Green Bay, WI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Green Bay, WI
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Green Bay, WI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / VA)
5%
5.3%
+0.3 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
7.65%
5.75%
+1.9 pp in WI

Green Bay vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Green Bay or Virginia Beach?
Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Green Bay than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Green Bay versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Green Bay or Virginia Beach?
Green Bay is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).