Living Cost Compare
New York City

New York

$1,990/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 $1,990 in New York City, NY versus $1,540 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Virginia Beach, VA is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New York City, NY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,713 in New York City, NY and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 12% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

New York City, NY
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$1,633
$1,496
+8% in New York City, NY
1 Bedroom
$1,705
$1,357
+20% in New York City, NY
2 Bedroom
$1,781
$1,559
+12% in New York City, NY
3 Bedroom
$2,065
$1,857
+10% in New York City, NY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$751,700
$366,300
+51% in New York City, NY

Income

Median Household Income
$79,713
$90,685
+14% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,430
$49,430
+20% in New York City, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.0 yr
37.4 yr
+0.6 yr in New York City, NY
Homeownership
32.8%
64.9%
+32.1 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.0%
40.4%
+0.6 pp in New York City, NY
Avg Commute
40.6 min
23.2 min
+17.4 min in New York City, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
690.9
96.7
+86% in New York City, NY
Property Crime
2,413.5
1,664.3
+31% in New York City, NY

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
55.0°F
59.9°F
+4.9°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
49.9 in
44.3 in
+5.6 in in New York City, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.44/gal
$4.30/gal
+3% in New York City, NY

Area: New York City vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$3.00
$2.00
+33% in New York City, NY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.6
17.1
+40% in New York City, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.90
$18.75
+1% in New York City, NY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.16
+1% in Virginia Beach, VA
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.73
+10% in New York City, NY
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.19
+3% in New York City, NY
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.56
+5% in New York City, NY
Chicken (lb)
$2.02
$1.90
+6% in New York City, NY
Bananas (lb)
$0.68
$0.61
+10% in New York City, NY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NY / VA)
4%
5.3%
+1.3 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
10.90%
5.75%
+5.2 pp in NY

New York City vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New York City or Virginia Beach?
Virginia Beach, VA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,540 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below New York City, NY's $1,990, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New York City 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 New York City versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, New York City or Virginia Beach?
New York City is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% 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).