City Comparison

Tyler vs Virginia Beach

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Tyler

Texas
85
Very Affordable
$250,000
Median Home
$1,075/mo
Median Rent
$54,800
Median Income

Virginia Beach

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

The Verdict

19.0%

Living in Tyler costs 19.0% less than Virginia Beach. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Tyler, you would need $92,647 in Virginia Beach.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
69
Tyler
112
Virginia Beach
Groceries
96
Tyler
100
Virginia Beach
Utilities
97
Tyler
98
Virginia Beach
Transportation
92
Tyler
101
Virginia Beach
Healthcare
93
Tyler
99
Virginia Beach

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Tyler has the same purchasing power as $92,647 in Virginia Beach.

Conversely, $75,000 in Virginia Beach equals $60,714 in Tyler.

Living in Tyler vs Virginia Beach

Housing Costs

Tyler's housing index of 69 is lower Virginia Beach's 112, translating to median home prices of $250,000 vs $310,000. The $60,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,900 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Tyler compared to $1,500/mo in Virginia Beach, a monthly difference of $425.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Tyler and 100 in Virginia Beach. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Tyler 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 Tyler and 98 in Virginia Beach. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Tyler vs $392 in Virginia Beach. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 93 in Tyler 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 $54,800 in Tyler and $73,418 in Virginia Beach. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,471 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 $1,279/month to housing in Tyler vs $1,713/month in Virginia Beach. In Tyler, median rent of $1,075/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 43 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tyler is 19.0% more affordable overall with an index of 85 vs 105.
A $75,000 salary in Tyler has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $92,647 in Virginia Beach, based on the cost of living difference.
Tyler's housing index is 69 with median homes at $250,000, while Virginia Beach's is 112 with median homes at $310,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases