CostIndexUSA

St. Paul, MN vs Virginia Beach, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MN
St. Paul
104.8
overall index
$1,675/mo rent
More AffordableVA
Virginia Beach
97.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent

Virginia Beach is moderately cheaper than St. Paul — 6.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in St. Paul, you would need $74,700 in Virginia Beach. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing10.7%
St. Paul
111.8
Virginia Beach
99.8
🛒 Groceries6.1%
St. Paul
103.1
Virginia Beach
96.8
🚗 Transportation5.6%
St. Paul
109.6
Virginia Beach
103.5
🏥 Healthcare5.5%
St. Paul
99.2
Virginia Beach
93.7
Utilities4.2%
St. Paul
93.5
Virginia Beach
89.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Virginia Beach, VA
$74,700
$5,300 less needed in Virginia Beach

Formula: salary × (97.9 ÷ 104.8) = salary × 0.9342. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

St. Paul, MN

Median Home Price
$374,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,675
Housing Index
111.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.6×

Virginia Beach, VA

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

St. Paul has 10.7% lower housing costs compared to Virginia Beach.

Income & Job Market

St. Paul, MN

Median Household Income
$95,100
Per Capita Income
$54,200
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
311,527
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceEducationGovernmentManufacturing

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).

St. Paul, MN
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.