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Las Vegas vs Virginia Beach Cost of Living Comparison — Salary, Rent & Expenses

Virginia Beach is 2.3% cheaper than Las Vegas

To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in Las Vegas, you'd need about $97,700 in Virginia Beach — a $2,300 saving per year.

Las Vegas, NV
100.2
Price level (100 = US avg)
$5,112/mo
Sample monthly budget
Virginia Beach, VA
97.9
Price level (100 = US avg)
$4,986/mo
Sample monthly budget

Monthly Cost Breakdown

Estimated monthly spending for a middle-income household, adjusted by each metro's BEA price level.

Housing (rent/mortgage)
−$87/mo
Las Vegas
$2,108
Virginia Beach
$2,021
Groceries
−$7/mo
Las Vegas
$501
Virginia Beach
$494
Transportation
−$11/mo
Las Vegas
$901
Virginia Beach
$890
Healthcare
−$7/mo
Las Vegas
$481
Virginia Beach
$474
Utilities
−$5/mo
Las Vegas
$430
Virginia Beach
$425
Other (apparel, entertainment)
−$9/mo
Las Vegas
$691
Virginia Beach
$682
Total / month
Las Vegas
$5,112
Virginia Beach
$4,986
Difference
−$126

Equivalent Salary: Las Vegas → Virginia Beach

The salary you'd need in Virginia Beach to maintain the same purchasing power as each income level in Las Vegas, using the BEA price ratio of 0.977.

Salary in Las VegasEquivalent in Virginia BeachDifference
$50,000$48,900−$1,100
$75,000$73,300−$1,700
$100,000$97,700−$2,300
$150,000$146,600−$3,400
$200,000$195,400−$4,600

Las Vegas vs Virginia Beach: What the Numbers Mean

Moving from Las Vegas, NV to Virginia Beach, VA means your everyday costs are cheaper by roughly 2.3%. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis measures Las Vegas's overall price level at 100.2 and Virginia Beach's at 97.9, where 100 represents the national average. In practical terms, a household spending $5,112 per month in Las Vegas would spend about $4,986 for the equivalent lifestyle in Virginia Beach — a swing of $126 every month, or $1,512 per year.

Housing is the decisive factor. Estimated monthly housing runs $2,108 in Las Vegas against $2,021 in Virginia Beach. Because rent and mortgage costs vary far more between metros than groceries or utilities, the housing line alone accounts for most of the 2.3% gap.

For salary negotiation or a remote-work relocation, the key number is the equivalent salary. A $100,000 income in Las Vegas has the same purchasing power as $97,700 in Virginia Beach. Looked at the other way, $100,000 in Virginia Beach is worth about $102,300 in Las Vegas terms. Use the Cost of Living Calculator to plug in your own expenses.

Cost of living compares prices across places at one point in time. The related question — how prices in one place have changed over time — is answered by inflation. To see what an income or price from an earlier decade is worth in today's money, see what old money is worth today, which converts any amount from 1913 onward using Consumer Price Index data.

Don't forget state taxes

Price levels don't include income tax, which can significantly swing your real take-home pay — especially between NV and VA.

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Virginia Beach more expensive than Las Vegas?

Virginia Beach is 2.3% cheaper than Las Vegas overall. Based on the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2024), Las Vegas has a price level of 100.2 versus 97.9 for Virginia Beach, where 100 equals the national average.

What salary do I need in Virginia Beach to match $100,000 in Las Vegas?

To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary in Las Vegas, you would need about $97,700 in Virginia Beach — a difference of $2,300 per year.

Which costs more, housing in Las Vegas or Virginia Beach?

Estimated monthly housing runs about $2,108 in Las Vegas versus $2,021 in Virginia Beach. Housing is the single biggest driver of the cost-of-living gap between the two metros.

Sources & methodology

Price levels use the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for metropolitan areas (2024, released February 2026). Las Vegas maps to the Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV MSA; Virginia Beach maps to the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC MSA. Category spending baselines come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. Category-level figures are modeled estimates and are illustrative; actual costs vary by household. This is a planning tool, not financial advice.