Living Cost Compare
Newark

New Jersey

$1,210/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 $1,210 in Newark, NJ versus $1,550 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Newark, NJ is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,416 in Newark, NJ and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 47% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Newark, NJ
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$1,111
$1,496
+35% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$978
$1,357
+39% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,386
$1,559
+12% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,695
$1,857
+10% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$337,800
$366,300
+8% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$48,416
$90,685
+87% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,430
$49,430
+20% in Newark, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.8 yr
37.4 yr
+2.6 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
24.1%
64.9%
+40.8 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
17.4%
40.4%
+23.0 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Avg Commute
33.2 min
23.2 min
+10.0 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
582.5
96.9
+83% in Newark, NJ
Property Crime
1,961.8
1,664.9
+15% in Newark, NJ

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
46.3 in
44.3 in
+1.9 in in Newark, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/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)
23.3
17.6
+24% in Newark, NJ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.93
$23.66
+49% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Newark, NJ
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Newark, NJ
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Virginia Beach, VA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Newark, NJ
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Newark, NJ
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Newark, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NJ / VA)
6.625%
5.3%
+1.3 pp in NJ
Income Tax (top rate)
10.75%
5.75%
+5.0 pp in NJ

Newark vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Virginia Beach?
Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,550, 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 $39,000 a year in Newark versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Virginia Beach?
Newark is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).