City Comparison

Pembroke Pines vs Virginia Beach

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Pembroke Pines

Florida
111
Above Average
$440,000
Median Home
$1,900/mo
Median Rent
$85,900
Median Income

Virginia Beach

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

The Verdict

5.7%

Living in Virginia Beach costs 5.7% less than Pembroke Pines. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Pembroke Pines, you would need $70,946 in Virginia Beach.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
140
Pembroke Pines
112
Virginia Beach
Groceries
105
Pembroke Pines
100
Virginia Beach
Utilities
105
Pembroke Pines
98
Virginia Beach
Transportation
99
Pembroke Pines
101
Virginia Beach
Healthcare
91
Pembroke Pines
99
Virginia Beach

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Pembroke Pines has the same purchasing power as $70,946 in Virginia Beach.

Conversely, $75,000 in Virginia Beach equals $79,286 in Pembroke Pines.

Living in Pembroke Pines vs Virginia Beach

Housing Costs

Pembroke Pines's housing index of 140 is higher Virginia Beach's 112, translating to median home prices of $440,000 vs $310,000. The $130,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,448 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,900/mo in Pembroke Pines compared to $1,500/mo in Virginia Beach, a monthly difference of $400.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 105 in Pembroke Pines and 100 in Virginia Beach. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $499/month in Pembroke Pines 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 105 in Pembroke Pines and 98 in Virginia Beach. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Pembroke Pines vs $392 in Virginia Beach. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 91 in Pembroke Pines 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 $85,900 in Pembroke Pines and $73,418 in Virginia Beach. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $77,387 and $69,922 respectively. Pembroke Pines residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,004/month to housing in Pembroke Pines vs $1,713/month in Virginia Beach. In Pembroke Pines, median rent of $1,900/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 28 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Virginia Beach is 5.7% more affordable overall with an index of 105 vs 111.
A $75,000 salary in Pembroke Pines has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $70,946 in Virginia Beach, based on the cost of living difference.
Pembroke Pines's housing index is 140 with median homes at $440,000, while Virginia Beach's is 112 with median homes at $310,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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