Gresham vs Virginia Beach
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Gresham
Virginia Beach
The Verdict
Virginia Beach is 21.9% less expensive than Gresham overall. A household earning $75,000 in Gresham would need approximately $61,523 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 Gresham has the same purchasing power as $61,523 in Virginia Beach.
Conversely, $75,000 in Virginia Beach equals $91,429 in Gresham.
Living in Gresham vs Virginia Beach
Housing Costs
Gresham's housing index of 172 is higher Virginia Beach's 112, translating to median home prices of $459,000 vs $310,000. The $149,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,684 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,450/mo in Gresham compared to $1,500/mo in Virginia Beach, a monthly difference of $50.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in Gresham and 100 in Virginia Beach. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Gresham 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 96 in Gresham and 98 in Virginia Beach. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Gresham vs $392 in Virginia Beach. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 103 in Gresham 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 $69,600 in Gresham and $73,418 in Virginia Beach. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,375 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 $1,624/month to housing in Gresham vs $1,713/month in Virginia Beach. In Gresham, median rent of $1,450/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 60 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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