CostIndexUSA

Tampa, FL vs Virginia Beach, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Tampa
100.9
overall index
$1,975/mo rent
More AffordableVA
Virginia Beach
97.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent

Virginia Beach is slightly cheaper than Tampa — 3.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Tampa, you would need $77,600 in Virginia Beach. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing20.7%
Tampa
125.8
Virginia Beach
99.8
🛒 Groceries+1.4%
Tampa
95.5
Virginia Beach
96.8
🚗 Transportation+1.1%
Tampa
102.4
Virginia Beach
103.5
🏥 Healthcare+1.1%
Tampa
92.7
Virginia Beach
93.7
Utilities+1.2%
Tampa
88.5
Virginia Beach
89.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Virginia Beach, VA
$77,600
$2,400 less needed in Virginia Beach

Formula: salary × (97.9 ÷ 100.9) = salary × 0.9703. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Tampa, FL

Median Home Price
$352,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,975
Housing Index
125.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.9×

Virginia Beach, VA

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

Tampa has 20.7% lower housing costs compared to Virginia Beach.

Income & Job Market

Tampa, FL

Median Household Income
$72,700
Per Capita Income
$41,400
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
399,700
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareTourismTechnologyLogistics

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).

Tampa, FL
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.