Living Cost Compare
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,490/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,540/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,490 in Raleigh, NC versus $1,540 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Raleigh, NC is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $82,424 in Raleigh, NC and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 9% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Raleigh, NC
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$1,301
$1,496
+15% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,323
$1,357
+3% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,462
$1,559
+7% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,715
$1,857
+8% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$377,800
$366,300
+3% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$82,424
$90,685
+10% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,990
$49,430
+5% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.7 yr
37.4 yr
+2.7 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
51.2%
64.9%
+13.7 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
52.9%
40.4%
+12.5 pp in Raleigh, NC
Avg Commute
23.4 min
23.2 min
+0.2 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
491.5
96.7
+80% in Raleigh, NC
Property Crime
2,838
1,664.3
+41% in Raleigh, NC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
60.6°F
59.9°F
+0.7°F in Raleigh, NC
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
44.3 in
+1.7 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$4.30/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
$2.00
+60% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.0
17.1
+7% in Virginia Beach, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.50
$18.75
+7% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.16
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.73
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.56
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.61
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NC / VA)
4.75%
5.3%
+0.5 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.99%
5.75%
+1.8 pp in VA

Raleigh vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Raleigh or Virginia Beach?
Raleigh, NC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,490 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,540, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Raleigh than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Raleigh versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Raleigh or Virginia Beach?
Raleigh is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).