Is it cheaper to live in Lincoln or Virginia Beach?

Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,550, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Lincoln 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 Lincoln versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.

Which has lower taxes, Lincoln or Virginia Beach?

Lincoln is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax).

Lincoln vs Virginia Beach Cost of Living 2026

Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/mo est.

Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,550/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Lincoln, NE versus $1,550 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Lincoln, NE is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,991 in Lincoln, NE and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 23% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Lincoln, NE

Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio

$851

$1,496

+76% in Virginia Beach, VA

1 Bedroom

$879

$1,357

+54% in Virginia Beach, VA

2 Bedroom

$1,070

$1,559

+46% in Virginia Beach, VA

3 Bedroom

$1,379

$1,857

+35% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$248,200

$366,300

+48% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income

$69,991

$90,685

+30% in Virginia Beach, VA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,800

$49,430

+1% in Lincoln, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

37.4 yr

+4.0 yr in Virginia Beach, VA

Homeownership

55.8%

64.9%

+9.1 pp in Virginia Beach, VA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.0%

40.4%

+0.6 pp in Lincoln, NE

Avg Commute

18.3 min

23.2 min

+4.9 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

363.1

96.9

+73% in Lincoln, NE

Property Crime

2,484.4

1,664.9

+33% in Lincoln, NE

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

51.5°F

59.9°F

+8.4°F in Virginia Beach, VA

Annual Precipitation

30.9 in

44.3 in

+13.5 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.86/gal

+2% in Lincoln, NE

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)

13.6

17.6

+30% in Virginia Beach, VA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.53

$23.66

+52% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Lincoln, NE

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Virginia Beach, VA

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Lincoln, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Lincoln, NE

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Lincoln, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NE / VA)

5.5%

5.3%

+0.2 pp in NE

Income Tax (top rate)

4.55%

5.75%

+1.2 pp in VA

Lincoln vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lincoln or Virginia Beach?: Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lincoln 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 Lincoln versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Lincoln or Virginia Beach?: Lincoln is taxed under Nebraska's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% 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).