Virginia Beach, VA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Virginia Beach, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Virginia Beach →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
With a population near 457,900, Virginia Beach, Virginia sits above the multi-city income median: households earn a typical $87,544 per year (+21% vs. that benchmark).
Home values in Virginia Beach run a median $343,700, roughly in line with the benchmark across cities in our dataset (+5%). Renters see a median monthly cost of $1,568. Mortgage rates and property taxes are worth checking before you commit either way.
Virginia Beach's home-price-to-income ratio of about 3.9× is fairly typical — housing costs track reasonably in line with local pay. Prices in the area have gained 5.22% year over year, a moderate pace that suggests a stable market around Virginia Beach. Climate and natural-hazard risk in Virginia Beach runs on the lower side, per FEMA's Relatively Low rating.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,568/mo in Virginia Beach would take 21.5% of your income.
$621/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($343,700) would take 25.2% of your income toward principal & interest.
$208/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Virginia Beach
Median home value is $343,700 and median gross rent is $1,568/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Virginia Beach City rose 5.22% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,713/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Virginia Beach's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively Low. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Virginia Beach reported a violent crime rate of 101.1 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Virginia Beach
Planning a move to Virginia Beach? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Virginia Beach, VA?
- Virginia Beach's key cost-of-living figures: $343,700 median home value, $1,568 median monthly rent, and $87,544 median household income, per the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Virginia Beach?
- Virginia Beach's median rent of $1,568/month works out to roughly $62,720 in annual income needed, if you're budgeting the standard 30% of gross pay toward rent. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Virginia Beach.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Virginia Beach?
- Renting in Virginia Beach at the median $1,568/month calls for about $62,720 a year under the standard 30% guideline; buying the median home at $343,700 takes roughly $78,637 a year in principal and interest (20% down, 30-year fixed, current rates). Timeline and down payment usually decide which makes more sense.
- Is Virginia Beach safe?
- Per FBI Crime Data Explorer figures, Virginia Beach's violent crime rate was 101.1 per 100,000 residents in 2025.
See the full salary breakdown for Virginia Beach →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Virginia Beach's.