College Station vs Virginia Beach
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
College Station
Virginia Beach
The Verdict
College Station is 17.1% less expensive than Virginia Beach overall. A household earning $75,000 in College Station would need approximately $90,517 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 College Station has the same purchasing power as $90,517 in Virginia Beach.
Conversely, $75,000 in Virginia Beach equals $62,143 in College Station.
Living in College Station vs Virginia Beach
Housing Costs
College Station's housing index of 82 is lower Virginia Beach's 112, translating to median home prices of $314,000 vs $310,000. The $4,000 difference in home prices means roughly $264 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in College Station compared to $1,500/mo in Virginia Beach, a monthly difference of $425.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 93 in College Station and 100 in Virginia Beach. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $442/month in College Station vs $475/month in Virginia Beach. College Station offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in College Station and 98 in Virginia Beach. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in College Station vs $392 in Virginia Beach. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 90 in College Station 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 $50,900 in College Station and $73,418 in Virginia Beach. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,506 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 $1,188/month to housing in College Station vs $1,713/month in Virginia Beach. In College Station, median rent of $1,075/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 30 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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