Overall
97.9
-2.1 below avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Cost-of-living indicators for Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 97.9
- Overall RPP
- #115
- of 387 metros
- 99.8
- Rents RPP
- $102K
- $100K national buys
The verdict
Virginia Beach costs less than 30% of U.S. metros — an overall index of 97.9, 2.1% below the national average, with services the biggest swing at 89.6.
- 97.9
- overall cost index (US average = 100)
- #115
- most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
- bottom 70%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 99.8
- rents RPP — the biggest budget swing
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $102,102 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $97,941.
What the Numbers Mean for Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach ranks #115 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the upper half by cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 97.9, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is 2.1% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Virginia Beach's most and least expensive categories — the priciest line item versus services at 89.6 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $102,102 inside Virginia Beach, while a household needs roughly $97,941 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 99.8 — 0.2% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Virginia Beach's overall index has fallen by 2.1 points, improving relative affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 96.8 and services at 89.6, meaning everyday spending in Virginia Beach is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Virginia Beach vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
98 Top 30% higher than 70% of 387 US metros
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024
Virginia Beach cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
99.8 RPP
- Services
Services
89.6 RPP
- Overall
Overall
97.9 RPP
- Goods
Goods
96.8 RPP
What this shows Virginia Beach's gap from the national average is led by services at 89.6. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing — where Virginia Beach's cost comes from
Metros near Virginia Beach's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 96.6, rents 101.2). Virginia Beach is more goods-led than its peers — its everyday goods cost more relative to housing. These metros sit near Virginia Beach's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.
Price Index Summary
Goods
96.8
-3.2 below avg
Services
89.6
-10.4 below avg
Rents
99.8
-0.2 below avg
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$97,941
in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$48,971
$75,000 nationally
$73,456
$125,000 nationally
$122,426
$150,000 nationally
$146,912
$200,000 nationally
$195,882
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has been trending downward, decreasing by 2.1 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.1 |
| 2009 | 99.2 |
| 2010 | 100.9 |
| 2011 | 101.3 |
| 2012 | 100.1 |
| 2013 | 99.7 |
| 2014 | 100.1 |
| 2015 | 100.2 |
| 2016 | 101.0 |
| 2017 | 99.1 |
| 2018 | 97.9 |
| 2019 | 95.5 |
| 2020 | 95.6 |
| 2021 | 97.9 |
| 2022 | 97.9 |
| 2023 | 97.7 |
| 2024 | 97.9 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC's index of 97.9.
Other VA Metros
What this means for Virginia Beach
How to read Virginia Beach's cost of living before a move, a job offer, or a budget.
- Budget to local prices, not headline pay — a $100K national salary spends like about $102,102 in Virginia Beach. Salary calculator
- Weigh housing heaviest: rents here index at 99.8 (0.2% below average) — the single largest swing in the RPP, while goods barely move between metros.
- Local median household income is $80,533; adjusted for Virginia Beach's price level that is about $82,226 in national-average buying power.
- Compare Virginia Beach head-to-head against a specific destination before you decide. Compare metros
RPP is BEA's annual price-level benchmark for the data year shown — not a live market quote. Pair it with current local wages and housing costs before deciding.
Compare to Other Metros
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC? ▼
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 97.9, meaning it is 2.1% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 96.8, services at 89.6, and rents at 99.8. It ranks #115 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $97,941 in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC. Conversely, $100K earned in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC has the purchasing power of $102,102 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC? ▼
Rents in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC are indexed at 99.8, which is 0.2% below the national average. This is close to the U.S. average.
Is Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC's overall cost index changed by -2.1 points (from 100.1 to 97.9). The cost of living has been declining.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, Richmond, Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC's 97.9.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Federal data behind these figures
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
