Living Cost Compare
Salem

Oregon

$1,170/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 $1,170 in Salem, OR versus $1,550 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Salem, OR is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,900 in Salem, OR and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 21% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Salem, OR
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$1,075
$1,496
+39% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$989
$1,357
+37% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,337
$1,559
+17% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,778
$1,857
+4% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$382,400
$366,300
+4% in Salem, OR

Income

Median Household Income
$71,900
$90,685
+26% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,310
$49,430
+11% in Salem, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
37.4 yr
+1.7 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
55.7%
64.9%
+9.2 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
31.4%
40.4%
+9.0 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Avg Commute
22.4 min
23.2 min
+0.8 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
540.6
96.9
+82% in Salem, OR
Property Crime
2,878.6
1,664.9
+42% in Salem, OR

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
53.0°F
59.9°F
+6.9°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
39.7 in
44.3 in
+4.6 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$3.86/gal
+24% in Salem, OR

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.3
17.6
+8% in Virginia Beach, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.59
$23.66
+15% in Virginia Beach, VA

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OR / VA)
None
5.3%
+5.3 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
9.90%
5.75%
+4.2 pp in OR

Salem vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Salem or Virginia Beach?
Salem, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Salem than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Salem versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Salem or Virginia Beach?
Salem is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).