City comparison
Richmond, VA vs Virginia Beach, VA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Richmond, VA (97.9) and Virginia Beach, VA (97.9, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Richmond, VA goes as far as $100,100 in Virginia Beach, VA.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,507 a month in Richmond, VA and $1,512 in Virginia Beach, VA.
- Both are in VA, so estimated state income tax is the same: $4,936 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.8% moving from Richmond, VA to Virginia Beach, VA ($111,183 → $108,019), while prices change by +0.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.9% in real buying power.
- Richmond, VA: price level 97.9 (cheaper)
- Virginia Beach, VA: price level 97.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Richmond, VA | Virginia Beach, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.9 | 97.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,085 in Virginia Beach | $99,915 in Richmond |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,507/mo | $1,512/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,244 | $74,244 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,936 (VA) | $4,936 (VA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,460 | $49,430 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Richmond, VA | Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC |
Rent areas: Richmond, VA HUD Metro FMR Area and Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Richmond, VA and Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Richmond | Virginia Beach |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 99.1 | 99.8 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 96.8 |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 89.6 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 98.6 |
| Overall | 97.9 | 97.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Richmond, VA → Virginia Beach, VA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.1%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
68 Fair offer
Virginia Beach, VA → Richmond, VA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.1%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
69 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Richmond, VA is in the Richmond, VA pay area; Virginia Beach, VA is in Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC. The last column shows what a transfer from Richmond, VA to Virginia Beach, VA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Richmond, VA | Virginia Beach, VA | Real change, Richmond → Virginia Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,475 | $62,640 | −2.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,009 | $75,788 | −2.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,499 | $90,838 | −2.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,183 | $108,019 | −2.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,385 | $127,646 | −2.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Richmond, VA | Virginia Beach, VA | Virginia Beach pay in Richmond dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,290 | $63,380 | $63,326 (+3.3%) |
| Software Developers | $132,120 | $129,090 | $128,981 (−2.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,220 | $79,450 | $79,383 (−5.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $93,580 | $89,450 | $89,374 (−4.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.