Question 1

Is Memphis or Virginia Beach cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Memphis, TN is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $527/month less than in Virginia Beach, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,274/mo in Memphis versus $1,713/mo in Virginia Beach.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Memphis vs Virginia Beach?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $60,500/year before tax in Memphis, TN and $76,500/year in Virginia Beach, VA — a difference of about $16,000. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Memphis or Virginia Beach cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Memphis, the same answer as for a single person. A four-person household runs about $6,533/month in Memphis 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 Memphis or Virginia Beach?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Memphis 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	Memphis57	Virginia Beach77
Est. monthly cost (single)	$3,530	$4,057
Est. monthly cost (household of 4)	$6,533	$7,717
Salary for comfort	$60,500/yr	$76,500/yr
Typical rent	$1,274	$1,713
Median home value	$157,100	$366,300
Median household income	$51,211	$90,685
Unemployment	4.7%	3.3%
Housing score	68	74
Jobs score	31	62
Safety score	4	93
Climate score	100	96
Amenities score	47	38
Population	629.1K	457.1K
Summer high / winter low	90° / 30°	88° / 32°

Memphis, TN vs Virginia Beach, VA