City comparison
Cost indices by category, with the US city average (100) marked.
Index: 100 = US city average. Lower is more affordable.
Side-by-side costs, salaries, and sub-category indices.
| Metric | Portsmouth | Virginia Beach | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,225/mo | $1,568/mo | 21.9% lower in A |
| Median home value | $213,300 | $343,700 | 37.9% lower in A |
| Median household income | $57,154 | $87,544 | 34.7% lower in A |
| Groceries index | 100.4 | 104.4 | 3.9% lower in A |
| Utilities index | 97.6 | 102.9 | 5.1% lower in A |
| Transportation index | 85.2 | 92.0 | 7.5% lower in A |
| Healthcare index | 100.1 | 111.0 | 9.8% lower in A |
How much you'd need to earn in the other city to keep the same standard of living.
If you earn $100,000 in Portsmouth, you'd need $115,968 in Virginia Beach to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Portsmouth, VA is about 13.8% cheaper overall than Virginia Beach, VA, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 22% lower in Portsmouth than in Virginia Beach. If you earn $80,000 in Portsmouth, you'd need about $92,774 in Virginia Beach to keep the same standard of living.