City comparison
Virginia Beach, VA vs Worcester, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Worcester, MA are 4.7% higher than in Virginia Beach, VA. Someone earning $100,000 in Virginia Beach, VA would need about $104,700 in Worcester, MA to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,599 a month in Worcester, MA versus $1,512 in Virginia Beach, VA. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Worcester, MA and 24% in Virginia Beach, VA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,936 a year in VA and $4,780 in MA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +11.6% moving from Virginia Beach, VA to Worcester, MA ($108,019 → $120,548), while prices change by +4.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +6.6% in real buying power.
- Virginia Beach, VA: price level 97.9 (cheaper)
- Worcester, MA: price level 102.5 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Virginia Beach, VA | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.9 | 102.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,678 in Worcester | $95,531 in Virginia Beach |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,512/mo | $1,599/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,244 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,936 (VA) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,430 | $57,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC HUD Metro FMR Area and Worcester, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC and Worcester, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Virginia Beach | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 99.8 | 113.0 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 89.6 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 97.9 | 102.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Virginia Beach, VA → Worcester, MA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.5%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax −$156/yr.
54 Fair offer
Worcester, MA → Virginia Beach, VA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.7%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$156/yr.
83 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Virginia Beach, VA is in the Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC pay area; Worcester, MA is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Virginia Beach, VA to Worcester, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Virginia Beach, VA | Worcester, MA | Real change, Virginia Beach → Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,640 | $69,905 | +6.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,788 | $84,579 | +6.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,838 | $101,375 | +6.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,019 | $120,548 | +6.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,646 | $142,452 | +6.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Virginia Beach, VA | Worcester, MA | Worcester pay in Virginia Beach dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,380 | $82,810 | $79,109 (+24.8%) |
| Software Developers | $129,090 | $146,950 | $140,382 (+8.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,450 | $94,070 | $89,866 (+13.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $89,450 | $100,240 | $95,760 (+7.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.