Is it cheaper to live in Phoenix or Virginia Beach?

Phoenix, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,540, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Phoenix than in Virginia Beach?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Phoenix versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.

Which has lower taxes, Phoenix or Virginia Beach?

Phoenix is taxed under Arizona's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax).

Phoenix vs Virginia Beach Cost of Living 2026

Phoenix

Arizona

$1,430/mo est.

Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,540/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,430 in Phoenix, AZ versus $1,540 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Phoenix, AZ is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,041 in Phoenix, AZ and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 15% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Phoenix, AZ

Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio

$1,127

$1,496

+33% in Virginia Beach, VA

1 Bedroom

$1,253

$1,357

+8% in Virginia Beach, VA

2 Bedroom

$1,493

$1,559

+4% in Virginia Beach, VA

3 Bedroom

$1,771

$1,857

+5% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$381,900

$366,300

+4% in Phoenix, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$77,041

$90,685

+18% in Virginia Beach, VA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,380

$49,430

+4% in Phoenix, AZ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.8 yr

37.4 yr

+2.6 yr in Virginia Beach, VA

Homeownership

57.1%

64.9%

+7.8 pp in Virginia Beach, VA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.3%

40.4%

+8.1 pp in Virginia Beach, VA

Avg Commute

25.7 min

23.2 min

+2.5 min in Phoenix, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

799.6

96.7

+88% in Phoenix, AZ

Property Crime

2,338.9

1,664.3

+29% in Phoenix, AZ

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

75.1°F

59.9°F

+15.2°F in Phoenix, AZ

Annual Precipitation

8.2 in

44.3 in

+36.1 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.57/gal

$4.30/gal

+23% in Phoenix, AZ

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.6

17.1

+9% in Virginia Beach, VA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$19.69

$18.75

+5% in Phoenix, AZ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

$4.16

+5% in Phoenix, AZ

Bread (lb)

$2.10

$1.73

+18% in Phoenix, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

$2.19

+3% in Phoenix, AZ

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

$6.56

+9% in Phoenix, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

$1.90

+11% in Phoenix, AZ

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

$0.61

+17% in Phoenix, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AZ / VA)

5.6%

5.3%

+0.3 pp in AZ

Income Tax (top rate)

2.50%

5.75%

+3.3 pp in VA

Phoenix vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Phoenix or Virginia Beach?: Phoenix, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,540, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Phoenix than in Virginia Beach?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Phoenix versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Phoenix or Virginia Beach?: Phoenix is taxed under Arizona's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).