Raleigh, NC vs Virginia Beach, VA

Raleigh, NC and Virginia Beach, VA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.8% difference in their overall index. Raleigh scores 110 while Virginia Beach scores 114 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Raleigh is $1,468/month compared to $1,649/month in Virginia Beach — a 11% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Raleigh has cheaper rent, Virginia Beach actually has lower median home values ($366,300 vs $377,800).

Median household income in Raleigh is $82,424 compared to $90,685 in Virginia Beach (-9.1%). While Virginia Beach is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Raleigh spend roughly 21.4% of their income on rent, less than the 21.8% in Virginia Beach.