Uprootmap
Virginia Beach vs Charleston
Virginia Beach and Charleston
Photo: Animum / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Charleston are above the US rate in this release, 10.7 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Virginia Beach to Charleston
In 2022-2023, 208 households filed a move from Virginia Beach to Charleston (about 385 people, average adjusted gross income $80,731). 377 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,454 in Virginia Beach and $1,588 in Charleston. Virginia Beach has a state tax on wages. Charleston has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Charleston is 99% of the national level for the same work, against 97% in Virginia Beach.
Charleston averages 222 sunny days, with July highs around 90°F and January nights around 41°F. Virginia Beach is 219 sunny days, 88°F in July, 37°F in January. Commutes average 27 minutes in Charleston and 25 in Virginia Beach.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 208 households moved Virginia Beach → Charleston (about 385 people, average AGI $80,731). 377 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Virginia Beach and Charleston changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 401 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,950–$3,700
- Container or pod
- $1,350–$2,550
- Rent a truck
- $600–$1,100
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Dig into Charleston
Questions
Is Charleston cheaper than Virginia Beach after tax and rent?
No. Charleston leaves about $70 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,454 in Virginia Beach and $1,588 in Charleston.
Does Charleston have state income tax?
Charleston is in South Carolina, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Virginia Beach to Charleston?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.