Living Cost Compare
Louisville

Kentucky

$1,040/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 $1,040 in Louisville, KY versus $1,540 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Louisville, KY is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,731 in Louisville, KY and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 29% 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.

Louisville, KY
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$786
$1,496
+90% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$877
$1,357
+55% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,096
$1,559
+42% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,299
$1,857
+43% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$221,500
$366,300
+65% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$64,731
$90,685
+40% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,370
$49,430
+2% in Virginia Beach, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.7 yr
37.4 yr
+0.3 yr in Louisville, KY
Homeownership
60.6%
64.9%
+4.3 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.4%
40.4%
+7.0 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Avg Commute
22.7 min
23.2 min
+0.5 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
761.5
96.7
+87% in Louisville, KY
Property Crime
3,535.4
1,664.3
+53% in Louisville, KY

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
58.2°F
59.9°F
+1.7°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
44.9 in
44.3 in
+0.6 in in Louisville, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.35/gal
$4.30/gal
+1% in Louisville, KY

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) 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 — TARC vs HRT (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
17.1
+15% in Virginia Beach, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.12
$18.75
+2% in Louisville, KY

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

Louisville vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Louisville or Virginia Beach?
Louisville, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,540, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Louisville 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 Louisville versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Louisville or Virginia Beach?
Louisville 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).