The short answer for 2026, based on Virginia's cost of living adjusted for Virginia Beach housing, plus what people actually earn.
The typical Virginia Beach household earns about $81,800, which is 19% above the $68,500 a comfortable lifestyle costs here. A median local income stretches comfortably.
| Lifestyle | Salary needed |
|---|---|
| Modest (single, essentials covered) | $45,500 |
| Comfortable (average-state lifestyle) | $68,500 |
| Very comfortable (room to save) | $91,000 |
| Median rent in Virginia Beach | $1,433/mo |
Figures scale each benchmark by an estimated Virginia Beach cost index: Virginia's BLISS score (1.00) adjusted for Virginia Beach's median home price ($295,900) versus the statewide median ($396,000). Housing drives most city-to-city differences; other spending uses the state average. Estimates, not advice. Actual needs vary by neighborhood and household size.
A salary is not what you keep. See your actual paycheck after Virginia and federal taxes.
Calculate my take-home pay ›About $68,500 a year. That matches the lifestyle $75,000 buys in an average U.S. state, using Virginia's BLISS cost score adjusted for Virginia Beach housing prices. A modest single-person budget is closer to $45,500, and $91,000 is very comfortable with room to save.
About $81,800 a year. That is 19% above the $68,500 a comfortable lifestyle costs here, so a typical local income stretches comfortably.
Virginia Beach's estimated cost of living is 9% below the U.S. average. The typical Virginia Beach home runs $295,900, which is 25% below Virginia's statewide median, and Virginia overall ranks #30 of 50 for affordability (#1 = cheapest).