CostIndexUSA

Rochester, NY vs Virginia Beach, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNY
Rochester
97
overall index
$1,475/mo rent
VA
Virginia Beach
97.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent

Rochester is slightly cheaper than Virginia Beach — 0.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Rochester, you would need $80,700 in Virginia Beach. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+14.1%
Rochester
87.5
Virginia Beach
99.8
🛒 Groceries2.9%
Rochester
99.7
Virginia Beach
96.8
🚗 Transportation+0.9%
Rochester
102.6
Virginia Beach
103.5
🏥 Healthcare+0.9%
Rochester
92.9
Virginia Beach
93.7
Utilities32.7%
Rochester
133.2
Virginia Beach
89.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Virginia Beach, VA
$80,700
$700 more needed in Virginia Beach

Formula: salary × (97.9 ÷ 97) = salary × 1.0093. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Rochester, NY

Median Home Price
$262,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
87.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Virginia Beach, VA

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

Virginia Beach has 14.1% higher housing costs compared to Rochester.

Income & Job Market

Rochester, NY

Median Household Income
$73,300
Per Capita Income
$41,800
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
211,328
Top Industries
HealthcareTechnologyEducationManufacturingFinance

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).

Rochester, NY
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.