CostIndexUSA

Hartford, CT vs Virginia Beach, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CT
Hartford
102.7
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableVA
Virginia Beach
97.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent

Virginia Beach is slightly cheaper than Hartford — 4.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Hartford, you would need $76,300 in Virginia Beach. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing9.4%
Hartford
110.2
Virginia Beach
99.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Hartford
97.3
Virginia Beach
96.8
🚗 Transportation4.0%
Hartford
107.8
Virginia Beach
103.5
🏥 Healthcare3.9%
Hartford
97.5
Virginia Beach
93.7
Utilities38.2%
Hartford
144.9
Virginia Beach
89.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Virginia Beach, VA
$76,300
$3,700 less needed in Virginia Beach

Formula: salary × (97.9 ÷ 102.7) = salary × 0.9533. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Hartford, CT

Median Home Price
$377,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
110.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.8×

Virginia Beach, VA

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

Hartford has 9.4% lower housing costs compared to Virginia Beach.

Income & Job Market

Hartford, CT

Median Household Income
$92,200
Per Capita Income
$52,600
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
121,054
Top Industries
FinanceInsuranceHealthcareGovernmentEducation

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).

Hartford, CT
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.