Living Cost Compare
Lexington

Kentucky

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Lexington, KY versus $1,550 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Lexington, KY is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,631 in Lexington, KY and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 25% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Lexington, KY
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$769
$1,496
+95% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$887
$1,357
+53% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,119
$1,559
+39% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,408
$1,857
+32% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$272,100
$366,300
+35% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$67,631
$90,685
+34% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,620
$49,430
+2% in Virginia Beach, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.2 yr
37.4 yr
+2.2 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
53.6%
64.9%
+11.3 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.3%
40.4%
+6.9 pp in Lexington, KY
Avg Commute
20.8 min
23.2 min
+2.4 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
269.1
96.9
+64% in Lexington, KY
Property Crime
2,304.4
1,664.9
+28% in Lexington, KY

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
55.6°F
59.9°F
+4.3°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
45.2 in
44.3 in
+0.9 in in Lexington, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Lexington, KY

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)
15.0
17.6
+18% in Virginia Beach, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.48
$23.66
+20% in Lexington, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KY / VA)
6%
5.3%
+0.7 pp in KY
Income Tax (top rate)
3.50%
5.75%
+2.3 pp in VA

Lexington vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lexington or Virginia Beach?
Lexington, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lexington than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lexington versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Lexington or Virginia Beach?
Lexington is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% 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).