Living Cost Compare
Naperville

Illinois

$1,830/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,550/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,830 in Naperville, IL versus $1,550 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Virginia Beach, VA is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $150,937 in Naperville, IL and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 40% higher in Naperville, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Naperville, IL
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$1,713
$1,496
+13% in Naperville, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,594
$1,357
+15% in Naperville, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,889
$1,559
+17% in Naperville, IL
3 Bedroom
$2,446
$1,857
+24% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$509,900
$366,300
+28% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$150,937
$90,685
+40% in Naperville, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$49,430
+10% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
40.1 yr
37.4 yr
+2.7 yr in Naperville, IL
Homeownership
74.3%
64.9%
+9.4 pp in Naperville, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
71.7%
40.4%
+31.3 pp in Naperville, IL
Avg Commute
31.4 min
23.2 min
+8.2 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
85.7
96.9
+13% in Virginia Beach, VA
Property Crime
892.2
1,664.9
+87% 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
49.9°F
59.9°F
+10.0°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
36.9 in
44.3 in
+7.4 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Naperville, IL

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)
23.9
17.6
+26% in Naperville, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.39
$23.66
+54% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Naperville, IL
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Virginia Beach, VA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Naperville, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Naperville, IL
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Naperville, IL
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / VA)
6.25%
5.3%
+1.0 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
5.75%
+0.8 pp in VA

Naperville vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Naperville or Virginia Beach?
Virginia Beach, VA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,550 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Naperville than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $64,000 a year in Naperville versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Naperville or Virginia Beach?
Naperville is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).