Living Cost Compare
Providence

Rhode Island

$1,310/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 $1,310 in Providence, RI versus $1,550 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Providence, RI is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,772 in Providence, RI and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 26% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Providence, RI
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$1,116
$1,496
+34% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,030
$1,357
+32% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,323
$1,559
+18% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,627
$1,857
+14% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$322,800
$366,300
+13% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$66,772
$90,685
+36% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$53,680
$49,430
+8% in Providence, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.9 yr
37.4 yr
+4.5 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
41.2%
64.9%
+23.7 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.7%
40.4%
+5.7 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Avg Commute
25.0 min
23.2 min
+1.8 min in Providence, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
282.4
96.9
+66% in Providence, RI
Property Crime
1,665.6
1,664.9
+0% in Providence, RI

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
51.6°F
59.9°F
+8.3°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
47.2 in
44.3 in
+2.9 in in Providence, RI

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)
29.5
17.6
+40% in Providence, RI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.06
$23.66
+47% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (RI / VA)
7%
5.3%
+1.7 pp in RI
Income Tax (top rate)
5.99%
5.75%
+0.2 pp in RI

Providence vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Providence or Virginia Beach?
Providence, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Providence than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Providence versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Providence or Virginia Beach?
Providence is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).