City Comparison

Hillsboro vs Virginia Beach

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Hillsboro

Oregon
128
Expensive
$533,000
Median Home
$1,725/mo
Median Rent
$106,700
Median Income

Virginia Beach

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

The Verdict

21.9%

Living in Virginia Beach costs 21.9% less than Hillsboro. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Hillsboro, you would need $61,523 in Virginia Beach.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
175
Hillsboro
112
Virginia Beach
Groceries
108
Hillsboro
100
Virginia Beach
Utilities
96
Hillsboro
98
Virginia Beach
Transportation
126
Hillsboro
101
Virginia Beach
Healthcare
103
Hillsboro
99
Virginia Beach

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Hillsboro has the same purchasing power as $61,523 in Virginia Beach.

Conversely, $75,000 in Virginia Beach equals $91,429 in Hillsboro.

Living in Hillsboro vs Virginia Beach

Housing Costs

Hillsboro's housing index of 175 is higher Virginia Beach's 112, translating to median home prices of $533,000 vs $310,000. The $223,000 difference in home prices means roughly $14,496 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,725/mo in Hillsboro compared to $1,500/mo in Virginia Beach, a monthly difference of $225.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 108 in Hillsboro and 100 in Virginia Beach. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $513/month in Hillsboro vs $475/month in Virginia Beach. Virginia Beach offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in Hillsboro and 98 in Virginia Beach. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Hillsboro vs $392 in Virginia Beach. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Hillsboro 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 $106,700 in Hillsboro and $73,418 in Virginia Beach. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $83,359 and $69,922 respectively. Hillsboro residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,490/month to housing in Hillsboro vs $1,713/month in Virginia Beach. In Hillsboro, median rent of $1,725/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 63 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Virginia Beach is 21.9% more affordable overall with an index of 105 vs 128.
A $75,000 salary in Hillsboro has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $61,523 in Virginia Beach, based on the cost of living difference.
Hillsboro's housing index is 175 with median homes at $533,000, while Virginia Beach's is 112 with median homes at $310,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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