Champaign vs Virginia Beach
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Champaign
Virginia Beach
The Verdict
Champaign is 22.9% less expensive than Virginia Beach overall. A household earning $75,000 in Champaign would need approximately $97,222 in Virginia Beach to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Champaign has the same purchasing power as $97,222 in Virginia Beach.
Conversely, $75,000 in Virginia Beach equals $57,857 in Champaign.
Living in Champaign vs Virginia Beach
Housing Costs
Champaign's housing index of 83 is lower Virginia Beach's 112, translating to median home prices of $215,000 vs $310,000. The $95,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,180 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Champaign compared to $1,500/mo in Virginia Beach, a monthly difference of $400.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 98 in Champaign and 100 in Virginia Beach. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Champaign vs $475/month in Virginia Beach. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 106 in Champaign and 98 in Virginia Beach. Monthly utility bills average approximately $424 in Champaign vs $392 in Virginia Beach. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 90 in Champaign and 99 in Virginia Beach. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $56,100 in Champaign and $73,418 in Virginia Beach. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $69,259 and $69,922 respectively. Virginia Beach residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,309/month to housing in Champaign vs $1,713/month in Virginia Beach. In Champaign, median rent of $1,100/mo fits within this budget. In Virginia Beach, median rent of $1,500/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 29 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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