Living Cost Compare
Provo

Utah

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Provo, UT versus $1,560 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Provo, UT is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,800 in Provo, UT and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 31% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Provo, UT
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$1,009
$1,496
+48% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$978
$1,357
+39% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,128
$1,559
+38% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,381
$1,857
+34% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$437,100
$366,300
+16% in Provo, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$62,800
$90,685
+44% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,010
$49,430
+3% in Virginia Beach, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
23.7 yr
37.4 yr
+13.7 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
39.9%
64.9%
+25.0 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
45.0%
40.4%
+4.6 pp in Provo, UT
Avg Commute
18.5 min
23.2 min
+4.7 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
205.7
96.9
+53% in Provo, UT
Property Crime
1,280.6
1,664.9
+30% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
53.4°F
59.9°F
+6.5°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
19.8 in
44.3 in
+24.6 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$3.94/gal
+8% in Provo, UT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.4
17.2
+29% in Virginia Beach, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.84
$27.20
+130% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Provo, UT
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Provo, UT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Virginia Beach, VA
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Provo, UT
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Provo, UT
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Provo, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (UT / VA)
6.1%
5.3%
+0.8 pp in UT
Income Tax (top rate)
4.50%
5.75%
+1.3 pp in VA

Provo vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Provo or Virginia Beach?
Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,560, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Provo 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 Provo versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Provo or Virginia Beach?
Provo is taxed under Utah's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).