Question 1

Is Arlington or Virginia Beach cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Virginia Beach, VA is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $54/month less than in Arlington, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,723/mo in Arlington versus $1,713/mo in Virginia Beach.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Arlington vs Virginia Beach?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $72,000/year before tax in Arlington, TX and $76,500/year in Virginia Beach, VA — a difference of about $4,500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Arlington or Virginia Beach cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Virginia Beach, the same answer as for a single person. A four-person household runs about $7,857/month in Arlington and $7,717/month in Virginia Beach, with rent scaled to household size using each city's own bedroom spread.

Question 4

Should I move to Arlington or Virginia Beach?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Virginia Beach costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Arlington73	Virginia Beach77
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,111	$4,057
Est. monthly cost (household of 4)	$7,857	$7,717
Salary for comfort	$72,000/yr	$76,500/yr
Typical rent	$1,723	$1,713
Median home value	$276,400	$366,300
Median household income	$73,519	$90,685
Unemployment	4.1%	3.3%
Housing score	60	74
Jobs score	58	62
Safety score	65	93
Climate score	96	96
Amenities score	73	38
Population	394.8K	457.1K
Summer high / winter low	94° / 35°	88° / 32°

Arlington, TX vs Virginia Beach, VA