City Comparison

Franklin vs Virginia Beach

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Franklin

Tennessee
139
Expensive
$750,000
Median Home
$1,850/mo
Median Rent
$118,200
Median Income

Virginia Beach

Virginia
105
Average
$310,000
Median Home
$1,500/mo
Median Rent
$73,418
Median Income

The Verdict

32.4%

Living in Virginia Beach costs 32.4% less than Franklin. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Franklin, you would need $56,655 in Virginia Beach.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
230
Franklin
112
Virginia Beach
Groceries
100
Franklin
100
Virginia Beach
Utilities
97
Franklin
98
Virginia Beach
Transportation
90
Franklin
101
Virginia Beach
Healthcare
91
Franklin
99
Virginia Beach

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Franklin has the same purchasing power as $56,655 in Virginia Beach.

Conversely, $75,000 in Virginia Beach equals $99,286 in Franklin.

Living in Franklin vs Virginia Beach

Housing Costs

Franklin's housing index of 230 is higher Virginia Beach's 112, translating to median home prices of $750,000 vs $310,000. The $440,000 difference in home prices means roughly $28,596 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,850/mo in Franklin compared to $1,500/mo in Virginia Beach, a monthly difference of $350.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 100 in Franklin and 100 in Virginia Beach. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Franklin 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 97 in Franklin and 98 in Virginia Beach. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Franklin vs $392 in Virginia Beach. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 91 in Franklin and 99 in Virginia Beach. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $118,200 in Franklin and $73,418 in Virginia Beach. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $85,036 and $69,922 respectively. Franklin residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,758/month to housing in Franklin vs $1,713/month in Virginia Beach. In Franklin, median rent of $1,850/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 118 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Virginia Beach is 32.4% more affordable overall with an index of 105 vs 139.
A $75,000 salary in Franklin has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $56,655 in Virginia Beach, based on the cost of living difference.
Franklin's housing index is 230 with median homes at $750,000, while Virginia Beach's is 112 with median homes at $310,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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