Long Beach vs Virginia Beach: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Long Beach, CA and Virginia Beach, VA, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricLong Beach, CAVirginia Beach, VA
Population462,293457,900
Median household income$78,995$87,544
Median home value$709,700$343,700
Median rent (/mo)$1,698$1,568

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Long Beach, CA and Virginia Beach, VA comes down to what you value most. Virginia Beach has the lower median home value, and Virginia Beach has the lower median rent.

Virginia Beach has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Long Beach or Virginia Beach?
By median home value, Virginia Beach is the cheaper of the two ($343,700 vs $709,700). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Long Beach or Virginia Beach?
Median household income is $78,995 in Long Beach versus $87,544 in Virginia Beach, per the US Census Bureau.

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