Living Cost Compare
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Newark, DE versus $1,560 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Virginia Beach, VA is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,373 in Newark, DE and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 21% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Newark, DE
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$1,649
$1,496
+9% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,391
$1,357
+2% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,513
$1,559
+3% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,916
$1,857
+3% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$357,600
$366,300
+2% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$71,373
$90,685
+27% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$49,430
+9% in Newark, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
22.0 yr
37.4 yr
+15.4 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
50.3%
64.9%
+14.6 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.5%
40.4%
+17.1 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
19.6 min
23.2 min
+3.6 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
326.3
96.9
+70% in Newark, DE
Property Crime
2,024.6
1,664.9
+18% in Newark, DE

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
54.9°F
59.9°F
+5.0°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
43.1 in
44.3 in
+1.2 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
17.2
+11% in Newark, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$27.20
+9% in Newark, DE

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 (DE / VA)
None
5.3%
+5.3 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
5.75%
+0.8 pp in DE

Newark vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Virginia Beach?
Virginia Beach, VA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,560 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Newark versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Virginia Beach?
Newark is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).