Living Cost Compare
Los Angeles

California

$2,010/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 $2,010 in Los Angeles, CA versus $1,540 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Virginia Beach, VA is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 11% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Los Angeles, CA
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$1,468
$1,496
+2% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,688
$1,357
+20% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,148
$1,559
+27% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,489
$1,857
+25% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$879,500
$366,300
+58% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$80,366
$90,685
+13% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$49,430
+11% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
37.4 yr
+0.5 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
36.3%
64.9%
+28.6 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.8%
40.4%
+2.6 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Avg Commute
31.1 min
23.2 min
+7.9 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
730.5
96.7
+87% in Los Angeles, CA
Property Crime
1,501.2
1,664.3
+11% 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
67.0°F
59.9°F
+7.1°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
21.2 in
44.3 in
+23.1 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.89/gal
$4.30/gal
+27% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$2.00
+14% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
17.1
+49% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$18.75
+10% in Los Angeles, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.16
+5% in Los Angeles, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.73
+18% in Los Angeles, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.19
+3% in Los Angeles, CA
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.56
+9% in Los Angeles, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$1.90
+11% in Los Angeles, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.61
+17% in Los Angeles, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / VA)
7.25%
5.3%
+2.0 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
5.75%
+7.6 pp in CA

Los Angeles vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Los Angeles or Virginia Beach?
Virginia Beach, VA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,540 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Los Angeles than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $68,000 a year in Los Angeles versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Los Angeles or Virginia Beach?
Los Angeles is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).