CostIndexUSA

Sacramento, CA vs Virginia Beach, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Sacramento
106.7
overall index
$2,200/mo rent
More AffordableVA
Virginia Beach
97.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent

Virginia Beach is moderately cheaper than Sacramento — 8.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Sacramento, you would need $73,400 in Virginia Beach. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing23.3%
Sacramento
130.2
Virginia Beach
99.8
🛒 Groceries8.0%
Sacramento
105.2
Virginia Beach
96.8
🚗 Transportation1.7%
Sacramento
105.3
Virginia Beach
103.5
🏥 Healthcare1.7%
Sacramento
95.3
Virginia Beach
93.7
Utilities40.8%
Sacramento
151.3
Virginia Beach
89.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Virginia Beach, VA
$73,400
$6,600 less needed in Virginia Beach

Formula: salary × (97.9 ÷ 106.7) = salary × 0.9175. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Sacramento, CA

Median Home Price
$566,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,200
Housing Index
130.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Virginia Beach, VA

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

Sacramento has 23.3% lower housing costs compared to Virginia Beach.

Income & Job Market

Sacramento, CA

Median Household Income
$95,000
Per Capita Income
$54,100
Unemployment Rate
5.8%
Population
524,943
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareTechnologyEducationAgriculture

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).

Sacramento, CA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.