CostIndexUSA

Fort Lauderdale, FL vs Virginia Beach, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Fort Lauderdale
114.2
overall index
$2,650/mo rent
More AffordableVA
Virginia Beach
97.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent

Virginia Beach is moderately cheaper than Fort Lauderdale — 14.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Lauderdale, you would need $68,600 in Virginia Beach. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing−35.9%
Fort Lauderdale
155.6
Virginia Beach
99.8
🛒 Groceries−6.6%
Fort Lauderdale
103.6
Virginia Beach
96.8
🚗 Transportation−9.7%
Fort Lauderdale
114.6
Virginia Beach
103.5
🏥 Healthcare−9.6%
Fort Lauderdale
103.7
Virginia Beach
93.7
⚡ Utilities−7.8%
Fort Lauderdale
97.2
Virginia Beach
89.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Fort Lauderdale to see what you'd need to earn in Virginia Beach to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
→
Equivalent salary in Virginia Beach, VA
$68,600
$11,400 less needed in Virginia Beach

Formula: salary × (97.9 ÷ 114.2) = salary × 0.8573. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Median Home Price
$467,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,650
Housing Index
155.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.7×

Virginia Beach, VA

Median Home Price
$360,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,800
Housing Index
99.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.7×

Fort Lauderdale has 35.9% lower housing costs compared to Virginia Beach.

Income & Job Market

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Median Household Income
$76,300
Per Capita Income
$43,500
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
182,760
Top Industries
FinanceTourismHealthcareReal EstateMarine

Virginia Beach, VA

Median Household Income
$79,300
Per Capita Income
$45,200
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
459,470
Top Industries
MilitaryTourismHealthcareRetailGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Fort Lauderdale, FL
2.4×income-to-rent ratio

58% of income left after rent (median)

Virginia Beach, VA
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Fort Lauderdale vs other cities

Fort Lauderdale, FL
vs
Cape Coral, FL
Index: 114.2Index: 102.3
Fort Lauderdale, FL
vs
Daytona Beach, FL
Index: 114.2Index: 99.4
Fort Lauderdale, FL
vs
Gainesville, FL
Index: 114.2Index: 96.7
Fort Lauderdale, FL
vs
Brownsville, TX
Index: 114.2Index: 86
Fort Lauderdale, FL
vs
Chattanooga, TN
Index: 114.2Index: 91.5

Virginia Beach vs other cities

Virginia Beach, VA
vs
Charlottesville, VA
Index: 97.9Index: 99.1
Virginia Beach, VA
vs
Chesapeake, VA
Index: 97.9Index: 97.9
Virginia Beach, VA
vs
Lynchburg, VA
Index: 97.9Index: 89.4
Virginia Beach, VA
vs
Long Beach, CA
Index: 97.9Index: 113.6
Virginia Beach, VA
vs
Raleigh, NC
Index: 97.9Index: 98.2

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.