Living Cost Compare
Houston

Texas

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Houston, TX versus $1,540 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Houston, TX is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,894 in Houston, TX and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 31% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Houston, TX
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$1,142
$1,496
+31% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,156
$1,357
+17% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,375
$1,559
+13% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,664
$1,857
+12% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$253,400
$366,300
+45% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$62,894
$90,685
+44% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,410
$49,430
+0% in Virginia Beach, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
37.4 yr
+3.1 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
42.0%
64.9%
+22.9 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
36.0%
40.4%
+4.4 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Avg Commute
27.3 min
23.2 min
+4.1 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,155.2
96.7
+92% in Houston, TX
Property Crime
4,325.3
1,664.3
+62% in Houston, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
70.3°F
59.9°F
+10.4°F in Houston, TX
Annual Precipitation
54.6 in
44.3 in
+10.3 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$4.30/gal
+12% in Virginia Beach, VA

Area: Houston vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
$2.00
+60% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
17.1
+4% in Virginia Beach, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.61
$18.75
+24% in Houston, TX

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 (TX / VA)
6.25%
5.3%
+1.0 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
5.75%
+5.8 pp in VA

Houston vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Virginia Beach?
Houston, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,540, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Houston than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Houston versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Houston or Virginia Beach?
Houston is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).