Head to head
Raleigh, NC vs Virginia Beach, VA
Virginia Beach is cheaper — estimated essentials for a single person run about $26/mo less, and living comfortably there takes roughly $500 less in annual salary (taxes included).
It flips for a family. For two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child, Raleigh is the cheaper of the two — rent scales to household size using each city's own bedroom spread, and childcare varies even more sharply between cities than rent does.
| Metric | Raleigh75 | Virginia Beach75 |
|---|---|---|
| Est. monthly cost (single) | $4,224 | $4,198 |
| Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare) | $9,872 | $9,897 |
| Salary for comfort | $78,500/yr | $79,000/yr |
| Typical rent | $1,750 | $1,713 |
| Median home value | $377,800 | $366,300 |
| Median household income | $82,424 | $90,685 |
| Unemployment | 3.1% | 3.7% |
| Housing score | 56 | 72 |
| Jobs score | 88 | 55 |
| Safety score | 59 | 93 |
| Climate score | 100 | 96 |
| Amenities score | 62 | 38 |
| Population | 470.8K | 457.1K |
| Summer high / winter low | 90° / 31° | 88° / 32° |
Fit scores use the reference profile (single, $6,700/mo gross, default weights). Green marks the better value per row.
Raleigh, NC
Virginia Beach, VA