Is it cheaper to live in Rutland or Virginia Beach?

Rutland, VT 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 Rutland than in Virginia Beach?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Rutland versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.

Which has lower taxes, Rutland or Virginia Beach?

Rutland is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 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).

Rutland vs Virginia Beach Cost of Living 2026

Rutland

Vermont

$1,120/mo est.

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

Median household income is $55,000 in Rutland, VT and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 39% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Rutland, VT

Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio

$893

$1,496

+68% in Virginia Beach, VA

1 Bedroom

$856

$1,357

+59% in Virginia Beach, VA

2 Bedroom

$1,097

$1,559

+42% in Virginia Beach, VA

3 Bedroom

$1,207

$1,857

+54% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$176,400

$366,300

+108% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income

$55,000

$90,685

+65% in Virginia Beach, VA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$49,430

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

48.5 yr

37.4 yr

+11.1 yr in Rutland, VT

Homeownership

52.7%

64.9%

+12.2 pp in Virginia Beach, VA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.2%

40.4%

+8.2 pp in Virginia Beach, VA

Avg Commute

14.7 min

23.2 min

+8.5 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

487.8

96.9

+80% in Rutland, VT

Property Crime

3,973.3

1,664.9

+58% in Rutland, VT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

44.6°F

59.9°F

+15.3°F in Virginia Beach, VA

Annual Precipitation

40.5 in

44.3 in

+3.9 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/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)

24.4

17.2

+30% in Rutland, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$26.07

$27.20

+4% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Rutland, VT

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Rutland, VT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Virginia Beach, VA

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Rutland, VT

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Rutland, VT

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Rutland, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VT / VA)

5.3%

+0.7 pp in VT

Income Tax (top rate)

8.75%

5.75%

+3.0 pp in VT

Rutland vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rutland or Virginia Beach?: Rutland, VT 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 Rutland than in Virginia Beach?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Rutland versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Rutland or Virginia Beach?: Rutland is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 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).