Discover the Coastal Charm of Virginia Beach
On the edge of the Atlantic, where the waves break pink and gold each dawn beneath the great trident of the statue of Neptune, Virginia Beach is a bustling seaside town and a natural oasis.
With 454,000 residents, this sunny, southern city is the largest in Virginia. The waters of the Atlantic, the rivers and the bays fuel diverse industries in the Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads Metropolitan District. With three major military installations in the city and several others in the area, Virginia Beach has a stable economic environment and a broad base of veteran-owned businesses. The civilian workforce is well-balanced across both industrial and professional sectors, from advanced manufacturing to healthcare and tourism.
Virginia Beach also has the largest pleasure beach in the world. The 28 uninterrupted miles of white sands along the Atlantic coast along with 10 miles along Chesapeake Bay are a prime playground for sailing and fishing, particularly for the Mid-Atlantic’s famed blue crab. And when you’re not out sunbathing or kiteboarding, you’ll have plenty of other diversions to keep you and your family entertained – art museums, the aquarium and loads of historic sites.
With a robust job market and all these amenities, you might assume that living in Virginia Beach would carry a hefty price tag, like other East Coast cities. But the surprising thing is: it’s affordable. The cost of living in Virginia Beach is only a point higher than the national average. And once you’re here, you’ll have easy access to important cities along the coast and further inland, from the nation’s capital to Richmond, Raleigh and beyond.
If you are looking to move to an East Coast city with an affordable cost of living and prime access to the Atlantic Ocean, Virginia Beach might be the place for you. Learn more below about the pros and cons of moving to Virginia Beach, from the cost of living to the housing market, popular neighborhoods and the best area attractions and events.
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Understanding the Cost of Living in Virginia Beach
Housing Market
If you are hoping to move to a mid-size, coastal city in the South, the cost of living in Virginia Beach will seem affordable by some standards and a little high by others. One of the biggest differentiators between these cities is their size. Virginia Beach’s territory, which encompasses 245 square miles, is enormous compared to many seaside enclaves — twice the size of Charleston and Savannah, and nearly seven times larger than Miami. Nothing can compete with Jacksonville, though, which swallows 750 square miles.
Despite warming seas and rising waters, all these cities have seen population gains over the last ten years, but some of those gains, including those in Virginia Beach, have been lost since the pandemic hit in 2020. Housing costs among these popular cities range from a low of $203,300 in Savannah to a high of $438,900 in Charleston, putting Virginia Beach’s median home value of $343,700 somewhere in the middle and closer to the national average of $281,900.
The median gross rent in Virginia Beach averaged $1,568 from 2018–2022 — topping all cities on this list. Home ownership rates in Virginia Beach are far higher than any of these cities and even beat the national average. Nearly 65% of residents own their own home in Virginia Beach, compared to only 30% in Miami.
More good news? The median household income in Virginia Beach is $87,544 — $12,000 above the U.S. average — and the poverty rate is only 8%.
Utilities and Daily Expenses
Coming in only a point higher than the national average, Virginia Beach’s cost of living offers savings beyond the cost of real estate. You’ll pay less in this seaside city for both healthcare and transportation, and groceries cost roughly the same as they do in the average U.S. metro. Utilities and miscellaneous goods are both more expensive, however.
According to MIT’s Living Wage Calculator, a single adult with no children working in Virginia Beach would need to budget $4,540 for food, $17,551 for housing, $9,149 for transportation, $1,518 for Internet/mobile services and $3,092 for medical expenses, necessitating an annual, pre-tax income of $50,068. Two working adults with 3 children living in Virginia Beach would need to budget $31,815 for childcare, $28,529 for housing, $16,270 for food, $9,061 for medical expenses, $15,329 for transportation, and $2,097 for Internet/mobile services, requiring a household income of $136,075, far above Virginia Beach’s median household income of $87,544.
Thriving Job Market in Virginia Beach
Like Annapolis, Jacksonville and Savannah, Virginia Beach has a major military presence. There are three significant bases, including the Naval Air Station Oceana, all of which create stability in the job market in the government sector and beyond. The city also stands out for its stability in the job market in the government sector and beyond and for its many veteran-owned businesses – which number more than 1,000.
Because of the dominance of the military and defense in the area, the government is actually the largest single sector of the nonfarm labor force in Virginia Beach, employing 160,000 as of April 2024. But employment in Virginia Beach is well-balanced over a variety of industries. Trade, transportation and utilities employs 130,300, education and health services employs 122,800, and professional and business services employs 121,800.
And let’s not discount leisure and hospitality in this beautiful beach town. A total of 93,700 people are employed in the tourism industry in Virginia Beach, where millions of locals and visitors spend their dollars every year on vacation rentals, fishing charters and simple poolside daiquiris.
Unemployment rates in the Virginia Beach area have remained at historic lows – they’ve even fallen farther between April of 2023 and 2024. Currently, the unemployment rate in the city of Virginia Beach is only 2.2%, and the metro area rate is only 2.5%. For comparison, the national rate grew over the same time period to 3.5% from 3.1%.
In addition to the military installations in Virginia Beach, several major employers have important bases in the area, including Sentara Healthcare and Bon Secourse Health System, GEICO, power tool manufacturer STIHL, Lockheed Martin, and Architectural Graphics. There are also several universities in the area, including public schools like Old Dominion University and Norfolk State, and private institutions like Regent University and Virginia Wesleyan.
Exploring the Best Neighborhoods in Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach is no one-note beach town. As the most populous city in Virginia, you’ll find diverse neighborhoods with distinct personalities in this region, from the edgy ViBE Creative District to family-centric, inland areas like Cypress Point.
The center of it all is on the edges – the Oceanfront area, where the boardwalk and Atlantic Avenue are hopping from dawn till way past dusk. Hotels, condos, townhouses and single families all make their home on this vast, beachy expanse. This high-activity area is made for people-lovers and extroverts – those who love a party, a crowd and a good time, all year long. The perks of living in this touristy area are that you’ll have access to all the fun amenities have visitors flock to each year, without the regret Virginia Beach isn’t yet their permanent home. The early-morning jogs on the boardwalk, the street performers and cafés and those prime, Mid-Atlantic waves that surfers find irresistible are all everyday delights in the Oceanfront District.
Further down the coast, Sandbridge is a kind of barrier island of Virginia Beach, a strip of civilization in the wilderness. Living up to its name, this slender, 4.5-mile stretch between Back Bay and the Atlantic Ocean is a quiet refuge and a retreat. There aren’t too many year-round residents in Sandbridge Beach, but there are fewer tourists here than near the Boardwalk. Along the shoreline, you’ll find enough shrimp shacks and taco stands to keep your beachcombing relatives sated while the sun is shining. But there are more sophisticated dining options further inland, like the Back Bay Gourmet, where the paella is top-notch. Sandbridge Beach terminates at the Back Bay Wildlife Refuge — the tip of False Cape State Park – which crosses directly into North Carolina.
Further inland, Great Neck is one of Virginia Beach’s most coveted residential areas. This tony district with a suburban feel offers prime access to the waters of Chesapeake Bay (or Chic’s Beach) and the Atlantic. You’ll find well-appointed single-family homes, tidy condominiums, and sprawling estates with waterfront views, all within easy reach of great amenities. One of the best greenspaces in the area, Great Neck Park sits on the eastern banks of Lynnhaven Bay and provides 70 acres of outdoor space for hiking, picnicking and play, including sand volleyball. Hospitals and doctor’s offices are never more than a few minutes’ drive, and restaurants and bars are easy to come by, too. Along Great Neck Road, you’ll find elegant eateries like the Coastal Grill and casual fare at favorites like the Bagel Baker, which also serves local products from Norfolk Coffee & Tea.
Just north of the Oceana Naval Base, the Hilltop is a popular shopping district for all of Virginia Beach. Chains and local purveyors create a strollable marketplace of the Hilltop Shops, where you can pick up your groceries, get the kids’ haircuts, and grab some stylish new rags for your own closet at cute shops, like the Pixelated Boutique.
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Note: If you’re thinking of moving to Virginia Beach, it’s important to thoroughly research neighborhoods you might be interested in living in. Before you decide where you are going to live, make sure you understand the area’s cost of living, commute time, tax rates, safety statistics and schooling information.
Living in VB Like a Local
Outdoor Activities and Natural Attractions
Whether you’re a resident or a local, the Virginia Beach Boardwalk is a fun place to be. This three-mile-long pathway is where you can take a sunrise stroll and relax with your evening cocktail. It’s a guaranteed win when your family visits you. The boardwalk is a wonderful place to take up rollerblading, and an even better place to watch other riders, with its designated zones for wheels and heels. This is also a place to do absolutely nothing. Hit the juice bar and the shops or park yourself in the sand for a day of soothing wind and waves. You might even catch some surfers in action.
Not all of Virginia Beach is fluffed up for tourists, though. Rugged beachcombers will want to explore the unspoiled sands of the area’s state parks. In North Virginia Beach on Cape Henry, First Landing State Park is the perfect place for a weekend getaway. Book a cabin for a rustic (but not too rustic) retreat hiking and biking from the shoreline to the marsh. The park also has replicas of historic dwellings from the Chesapeake and Powhatan tribes, who lived in the area long before the British arrived in 1607.
False Cape State Park offers a similarly rugged experience. You can take a wildlife and history tour by tram, where you’ll see the Wash Woods church and burial grounds and hopefully get a peek at some of the native shore birds of the area. False Cape connects to the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, which offers a fun sunset kayaking excursion that can’t be beaten. Instagram will be jealous that this is your new backyard. If you’re into fishing, motorboats are also allowed here.
Virginia Beach is more than just the beach, though. Inland enclaves like Stumpy Lake offer a respite from the sun and surfing and are perfect for fishing and paddle-boarding. Munden Point connects to the intercoastal, but the calm waters are ideal for kayaking, and the surrounding park has playgrounds, a disc golf course and gorgeous botanicals.
Cultural and Historical Attractions
You can learn about all the amazing wildlife in the waters of Virginia Beach at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. Green morays, barracudas and sandbar sharks are just a few of the friends you’ll meet in the more than 800,000 gallons of habitats here. Outside, the staff can take you on a dolphin-watching boat ride, or you can take yourself on a trek through the Adventure Park, where 33 ziplines and 17 canopy trails await.
Experience flights of another variety at the Military Aviation Museum. With three major military installations, it’s not surprising that this Virginia Beach institution holds one of the largest collections of vintage military aircraft, like the Sopwith Triplane and the Bell P-39 Airacobra.
Virginia Beach is also a home for the arts, though. Public murals, the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts – where you can see concerts, plays and dance performances – are just some of the highlights of this vibrant city.
Virginia Beach is awash in historic sights, from the Cape Henry Lighthouse to the Francis Land House. The Thoroughgood House was built in the early days of the 18th century, making it one of the oldest homes in the city. A guided tour will take you through the home and gorgeous English garden behind it.
Annual Events and Festivals
With a backdrop of the roaring surf and sunny skies, Virginia Beach is a welcome host to many outdoor events and festivals, from Symphony by the Sea to the free Funk Fest Beach Party. There’s even a fall wine festival highlighting Virginia’s finest vintners.
You’ll find that Neptune is an important figure in Virginia Beach. Surrounded by bronze fish and octopus, a 34-foot-tall statue of the god, sculpted by Paul DiPasquale, gazes out protectively over the sea at the 31st street entrance to the boardwalk. Named in the sea-god’s honor, the Neptune Festival Boardwalk Weekend — now in its 50th year — is the city’s biggest event. During the last week of September, crowds gather for a weekend of concerts, the International Sandsculpting Competition, a regatta, an 8K race and the Art & Craft show.
Another popular annual is the Oceanfront Concert Series, which brings free musical performances to the beach every Wednesday evening. The 2024 lineup includes American Idol winner Iam Tongi, Jefferson Starship and Digable Planets, among others.
But no event takes better advantage of the waves than the East Coast Surfing Competition. Since 1963, the Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships, or ECSC, has transformed this Mid-Atlantic city into the capital of wave-riding for one week each year. While pros from all over the world compete in the water, locals can take part in fun competitions on land in volleyball and skateboarding, or you can just enjoy the marketplace and bar crawl.
Choosing the Right Moving Company for Your Relocation to Virginia Beach
Ready to make your move to the cool waters of Virginia Beach? Look for a professional, reputable long-distance moving company like United Van Lines to make your move to Virginia Beach a seamless experience.
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As America’s #1 Mover®, United Van Lines has moved 1 million+ families across the United States. We can help your family with a cross-country move to Virginia Beach from anywhere in the U.S. We can provide you with a full-service moving package to include packing, unpacking, storage, debris removal and car shipping or offer you customized moving options to suit your individual needs.
If you’re making a local move to Virginia Beach, United Van Lines’ interstate Virginia Beach movers provide local moving services independently under their own businesses and brands.
If you’re making a DIY move to Virginia Beach, don’t go it alone. Follow our packing tips to prepare like a pro and use our week-by-week moving checklists to keep yourself on track. Get even more pro-level advice on moving, packing and settling in – anywhere, anytime – in United Van Lines’ House Key magazine.
Whether you’re moving locally or cross-country, you can trust United Van Lines to provide you with an experienced, dependable team of movers.
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