City Comparison

Olathe vs Virginia Beach

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Olathe

Kansas
106
Above Average
$364,000
Median Home
$1,425/mo
Median Rent
$114,000
Median Income

Virginia Beach

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

The Verdict

1.0%

Living in Virginia Beach costs 1.0% less than Olathe. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Olathe, you would need $74,292 in Virginia Beach.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
106
Olathe
112
Virginia Beach
Groceries
96
Olathe
100
Virginia Beach
Utilities
98
Olathe
98
Virginia Beach
Transportation
95
Olathe
101
Virginia Beach
Healthcare
102
Olathe
99
Virginia Beach

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Olathe has the same purchasing power as $74,292 in Virginia Beach.

Conversely, $75,000 in Virginia Beach equals $75,714 in Olathe.

Living in Olathe vs Virginia Beach

Housing Costs

Olathe's housing index of 106 is lower Virginia Beach's 112, translating to median home prices of $364,000 vs $310,000. The $54,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,516 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,425/mo in Olathe compared to $1,500/mo in Virginia Beach, a monthly difference of $75.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Olathe and 100 in Virginia Beach. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Olathe 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 98 in Olathe and 98 in Virginia Beach. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Olathe vs $392 in Virginia Beach. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Olathe 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 $114,000 in Olathe and $73,418 in Virginia Beach. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $107,547 and $69,922 respectively. Olathe residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,660/month to housing in Olathe vs $1,713/month in Virginia Beach. In Olathe, median rent of $1,425/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 6 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Virginia Beach is 1.0% more affordable overall with an index of 105 vs 106.
A $75,000 salary in Olathe has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $74,292 in Virginia Beach, based on the cost of living difference.
Olathe's housing index is 106 with median homes at $364,000, while Virginia Beach's is 112 with median homes at $310,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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