CostIndexUSA

Olympia, WA vs Virginia Beach, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Olympia
103.7
overall index
$2,025/mo rent
More AffordableVA
Virginia Beach
97.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent

Virginia Beach is moderately cheaper than Olympia — 5.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Olympia, you would need $75,500 in Virginia Beach. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing14.5%
Olympia
116.7
Virginia Beach
99.8
🛒 Groceries7.8%
Olympia
105
Virginia Beach
96.8
🚗 Transportation0.9%
Olympia
104.4
Virginia Beach
103.5
🏥 Healthcare0.8%
Olympia
94.5
Virginia Beach
93.7
Utilities2.3%
Olympia
91.7
Virginia Beach
89.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Olympia to see what you'd need to earn in Virginia Beach to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Virginia Beach, VA
$75,500
$4,500 less needed in Virginia Beach

Formula: salary × (97.9 ÷ 103.7) = salary × 0.9441. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Olympia, WA

Median Home Price
$518,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,025
Housing Index
116.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.3×

Virginia Beach, VA

Median Home Price
$360,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,800
Housing Index
99.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.7×

Olympia has 14.5% lower housing costs compared to Virginia Beach.

Income & Job Market

Olympia, WA

Median Household Income
$93,200
Per Capita Income
$53,100
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
53,532
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEducationRetailManufacturing

Virginia Beach, VA

Median Household Income
$79,300
Per Capita Income
$45,200
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
459,470
Top Industries
MilitaryTourismHealthcareRetailGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Olympia, WA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Virginia Beach, VA
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.