City comparison
Virginia Beach, VA vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 11.2% higher than in Virginia Beach, VA. Someone earning $100,000 in Virginia Beach, VA would need about $111,200 in Washington, DC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,015 a month in Washington, DC versus $1,512 in Virginia Beach, VA. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 24% in Virginia Beach, VA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $596 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Virginia Beach, VA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +12.7% moving from Virginia Beach, VA to Washington, DC ($108,019 → $121,785), while prices change by +11.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.4% in real buying power.
- Virginia Beach, VA: price level 97.9 (cheaper)
- Washington, DC: price level 108.9 (much pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Virginia Beach, VA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.9 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $111,173 in Washington | $89,950 in Virginia Beach |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,512/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,244 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,936 (VA) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,430 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Virginia Beach | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 99.8 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 89.6 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 97.9 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Virginia Beach, VA → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −10.1%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$596/yr.
26 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Virginia Beach, VA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +11.2%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$596/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Virginia Beach, VA is in the Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Virginia Beach, VA to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Virginia Beach, VA | Washington, DC | Real change, Virginia Beach → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,640 | $70,623 | +1.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,788 | $85,447 | +1.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,838 | $102,415 | +1.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,019 | $121,785 | +1.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,646 | $143,913 | +1.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Virginia Beach, VA | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Virginia Beach dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,380 | $79,470 | $71,483 (+12.8%) |
| Software Developers | $129,090 | $154,930 | $139,359 (+8.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,450 | $102,140 | $91,875 (+15.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $89,450 | $102,710 | $92,387 (+3.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.