City comparison
Miami, FL vs Virginia Beach, VA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Miami, FL are 16.6% higher than in Virginia Beach, VA. Someone earning $100,000 in Virginia Beach, VA would need about $116,600 in Miami, FL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,995 a month in Miami, FL versus $1,512 in Virginia Beach, VA. On $100,000, that's 30% of take-home pay in Miami, FL and 24% in Virginia Beach, VA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,936 a year higher in Virginia Beach, VA than in Miami, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.7% moving from Miami, FL to Virginia Beach, VA ($113,356 → $108,019), while prices change by −14.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +11.1% in real buying power.
- Miami, FL: price level 114.2 (much pricier)
- Virginia Beach, VA: price level 97.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Miami, FL | Virginia Beach, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 114.2 | 97.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $85,797 in Virginia Beach | $116,555 in Miami |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,995/mo | $1,512/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,244 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $4,936 (VA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 30% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,640 | $49,430 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL | Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC |
Rent areas: Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL HUD Metro FMR Area and Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL and Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Miami | Virginia Beach |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 155.6 | 99.8 |
| Goods | 103.6 | 96.8 |
| Utilities | 97.2 | 89.6 |
| Other services | 109.1 | 98.6 |
| Overall | 114.2 | 97.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Miami, FL → Virginia Beach, VA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +16.6%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$4,936/yr.
100 Strong offer
Virginia Beach, VA → Miami, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −14.2%; rent takes 30% of take-home; state tax −$4,936/yr.
30 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Miami, FL is in the Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL pay area; Virginia Beach, VA is in Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC. The last column shows what a transfer from Miami, FL to Virginia Beach, VA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Miami, FL | Virginia Beach, VA | Real change, Miami → Virginia Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $65,735 | $62,640 | +11.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $79,533 | $75,788 | +11.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $95,326 | $90,838 | +11.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $113,356 | $108,019 | +11.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $133,953 | $127,646 | +11.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Miami, FL | Virginia Beach, VA | Virginia Beach pay in Miami dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $58,300 | $63,380 | $73,872 (+26.7%) |
| Software Developers | $132,650 | $129,090 | $150,461 (+13.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,920 | $79,450 | $92,603 (+14.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $91,380 | $89,450 | $104,258 (+14.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.