Living Cost Compare
Montgomery

Alabama

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,560/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,020 in Montgomery, AL versus $1,560 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Montgomery, AL is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,687 in Montgomery, AL and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 39% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Montgomery, AL
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$864
$1,496
+73% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$831
$1,357
+63% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$982
$1,559
+59% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,172
$1,857
+58% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$148,500
$366,300
+147% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$55,687
$90,685
+63% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$44,950
$49,430
+10% in Virginia Beach, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.2 yr
37.4 yr
+1.2 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
54.3%
64.9%
+10.6 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.5%
40.4%
+6.9 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Avg Commute
20.5 min
23.2 min
+2.7 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
605.5
96.9
+84% in Montgomery, AL
Property Crime
2,258.3
1,664.9
+26% in Montgomery, AL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
65.1°F
59.9°F
+5.2°F in Montgomery, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.1 in
44.3 in
+8.8 in in Montgomery, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Virginia Beach, VA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
17.2
+5% in Virginia Beach, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$27.20
+13% in Virginia Beach, VA

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 (AL / VA)
4%
5.3%
+1.3 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
5.75%
+0.8 pp in VA

Montgomery vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Montgomery or Virginia Beach?
Montgomery, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,560, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Montgomery than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Montgomery versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Montgomery or Virginia Beach?
Montgomery is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).