Living Cost Compare
Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/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 $1,110 in Memphis, TN versus $1,540 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Memphis, TN is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,211 in Memphis, TN and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 44% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Memphis, TN
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$877
$1,496
+71% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$948
$1,357
+43% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,559
+45% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,281
$1,857
+45% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$157,100
$366,300
+133% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$51,211
$90,685
+77% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,890
$49,430
+5% in Virginia Beach, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
37.4 yr
+3.1 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
46.0%
64.9%
+18.9 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.2%
40.4%
+12.2 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Avg Commute
21.3 min
23.2 min
+1.9 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
2,507.5
96.7
+96% in Memphis, TN
Property Crime
6,965.8
1,664.3
+76% in Memphis, TN

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
63.1°F
59.9°F
+3.2°F in Memphis, TN
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
44.3 in
+9.4 in in Memphis, TN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.35/gal
$4.30/gal
+1% in Memphis, TN

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 — MATA vs HRT (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
17.1
+13% in Virginia Beach, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.54
$18.75
+21% in Virginia Beach, VA

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 (TN / VA)
7%
5.3%
+1.7 pp in TN
Income Tax (top rate)
None
5.75%
+5.8 pp in VA

Memphis vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Memphis or Virginia Beach?
Memphis, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,110 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,540, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Memphis than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $38,000 a year in Memphis versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Memphis or Virginia Beach?
Memphis is taxed under Tennessee's rules (no state income tax and a 7% 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).