Living Cost Compare
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,540/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,130/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,540 in Virginia Beach, VA versus $2,130 in Washington, DC. Overall, Virginia Beach, VA is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 15% higher in Washington, DC. Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Virginia Beach, VA
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$1,496
$1,763
+18% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$1,357
$1,885
+39% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,559
$1,949
+25% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,857
$2,249
+21% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$366,300
$724,600
+98% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$90,685
$106,287
+17% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,430
$71,060
+44% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.4 yr
34.9 yr
+2.5 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
64.9%
41.1%
+23.8 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
40.4%
63.6%
+23.2 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
23.2 min
30.3 min
+7.1 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
96.7
936
+868% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
1,664.3
3,627.1
+118% in Washington, DC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
59.9°F
58.2°F
+1.7°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
44.3 in
39.7 in
+4.6 in in Virginia Beach, VA

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)
$2.00
$2.00
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.1
25.0
+47% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.75
$18.01
+4% 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 (VA / DC)
5.3%
6%
+0.7 pp in DC
Income Tax (top rate)
5.75%
10.75%
+5.0 pp in DC

Virginia Beach vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Virginia Beach or Washington?
Virginia Beach, VA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,540 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Washington, DC's $2,130, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Virginia Beach than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $54,000 a year in Virginia Beach versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Virginia Beach or Washington?
Virginia Beach is taxed under Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% 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).