Raleigh vs Virginia Beach: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Raleigh, NC and Virginia Beach, VA, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Raleigh, NC | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 465,517 | 457,900 |
| Median household income | $78,631 | $87,544 |
| Median home value | $347,000 | $343,700 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,371 | $1,568 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Raleigh, NC and Virginia Beach, VA comes down to what you value most. Virginia Beach has the lower median home value, and Raleigh 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 Raleigh or Virginia Beach?
- By median home value, Virginia Beach is the cheaper of the two ($343,700 vs $347,000). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Raleigh or Virginia Beach?
- Median household income is $78,631 in Raleigh versus $87,544 in Virginia Beach, per the US Census Bureau.