CostIndexUSA

Garden Grove, CA vs Virginia Beach, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Garden Grove
113.6
overall index
$2,550/mo rent
More AffordableVA
Virginia Beach
97.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent

Virginia Beach is moderately cheaper than Garden Grove — 13.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Garden Grove, you would need $68,900 in Virginia Beach. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing41.4%
Garden Grove
170.4
Virginia Beach
99.8
🛒 Groceries9.2%
Garden Grove
106.6
Virginia Beach
96.8
🚗 Transportation5.6%
Garden Grove
109.6
Virginia Beach
103.5
🏥 Healthcare5.4%
Garden Grove
99.1
Virginia Beach
93.7
Utilities43.5%
Garden Grove
158.6
Virginia Beach
89.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Virginia Beach, VA
$68,900
$11,100 less needed in Virginia Beach

Formula: salary × (97.9 ÷ 113.6) = salary × 0.8618. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Garden Grove, CA

Median Home Price
$565,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,550
Housing Index
170.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Virginia Beach, VA

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

Garden Grove has 41.4% lower housing costs compared to Virginia Beach.

Income & Job Market

Garden Grove, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
171,949
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailTourismTechnology

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).

Garden Grove, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

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

73% of income left after rent (median)

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.