Living Cost Compare
San Francisco

California

$2,750/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 $2,750 in San Francisco, CA versus $1,540 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Virginia Beach, VA is roughly 44% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Francisco, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $141,446 in San Francisco, CA and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 36% higher in San Francisco, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

San Francisco, CA
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$1,560
$1,496
+4% in San Francisco, CA
1 Bedroom
$2,425
$1,357
+44% in San Francisco, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,982
$1,559
+48% in San Francisco, CA
3 Bedroom
$3,269
$1,857
+43% in San Francisco, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,380,500
$366,300
+73% in San Francisco, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$141,446
$90,685
+36% in San Francisco, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$74,260
$49,430
+33% in San Francisco, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
39.7 yr
37.4 yr
+2.3 yr in San Francisco, CA
Homeownership
38.5%
64.9%
+26.4 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.1%
40.4%
+19.7 pp in San Francisco, CA
Avg Commute
31.2 min
23.2 min
+8.0 min in San Francisco, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
596.5
96.7
+84% in San Francisco, CA
Property Crime
3,962.2
1,664.3
+58% in San Francisco, CA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
57.3°F
59.9°F
+2.6°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
23.6 in
44.3 in
+20.7 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$6.05/gal
$4.30/gal
+29% in San Francisco, CA

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$2.00
+20% in San Francisco, CA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
17.1
+49% in San Francisco, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$18.75
+10% in San Francisco, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.16
+5% in San Francisco, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.73
+18% in San Francisco, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.19
+3% in San Francisco, CA
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.56
+9% in San Francisco, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$1.90
+11% in San Francisco, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.61
+17% in San Francisco, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / VA)
7.25%
5.3%
+2.0 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
5.75%
+7.6 pp in CA

San Francisco vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in San Francisco or Virginia Beach?
Virginia Beach, VA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,540 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below San Francisco, CA's $2,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in San Francisco than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $97,000 a year in San Francisco versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, San Francisco or Virginia Beach?
San Francisco is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).