($1,465) Movers From Huntsville, AL to Virginia Beach, VA

What to know before moving from Huntsville to Virginia Beach

Moving from Huntsville to Virginia Beach comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Virginia Beach is generally more expensive than Huntsville, it’s important to plan ahead and budget carefully for the change.

Check out how the two cities compare so you know what to expect before you relocate:

• Rent prices in Virginia Beach are 38% higher than in Huntsville, which means you’ll have less money in your pocket each month.
• In terms of homeownership, you’ll be able to get more for your money in Huntsville.
  Home prices in Virginia Beach are 50.9% higher than in Huntsville.
• Income in Virginia Beach is 34.2% higher than in Huntsville, so you could earn more for doing the same job. The top employers in Virginia Beach include Stihl, Navy Exchange, and Venture Realty Group.
• Be sure to budget for higher bills in Virginia Beach, since the cost of living for a single person in Virginia Beach is 44.7% higher than in Huntsville. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• If you’re moving your family to Virginia Beach, keep in mind that your living expenses could increase. The cost of living for a family in Virginia Beach is 42.8% higher than in Huntsville.
• The unemployment rate in Virginia Beach is 54.84% higher than in Huntsville.
• You’ll spend less on retail and restaurants in Virginia Beach, since the city’s sales taxes in Virginia Beach are 33.33% lower than in Huntsville.
• State income taxes in Virginia Beach are 15.00% higher than in Huntsville.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $4,340.57 in Virginia Beach to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Huntsville.

How life is different in Huntsville vs. Virginia Beach

• The population of Virginia Beach is about 90% greater than Huntsville, so you may find more to see and do in your new surroundings. Of course, with more people can also come increased competition for jobs and housing.
• Virginia Beach offers better access to buses and trains than Huntsville, based on public transportation ratings. Virginia Beach has a transit score of 3 out of 10 compared to 2 in Huntsville. The higher the score, the more public transportation pickup and dropoff locations a city provides.
• Living in Virginia Beach means you’ll likely be within closer walking distance to restaurants, shops, parks, and entertainment than you are in Huntsville. Virginia Beach is considered more walkable than Huntsville, with a score of 33 out of 100 versus 24 out of 100 in Huntsville. A city’s walkability score indicates how pedestrian-friendly it is in terms of proximity of neighborhoods to amenities.
• Virginia Beach and Huntsville are similarly bike-friendly based on their comparable ratings of 42 and 40 respectively. Bike-friendliness scores between 50 and 100 indicate varying levels of infrastructure to support cyclists, including bike lanes and roadway connectivity. Cities with scores under 50 are considered more car-dependent.
• You can anticipate the same crime rate in Virginia Beach as Huntsville. With the crime index, lower scores are better because they indicate less crime. Cities with scores of 20 or below, for example, have much fewer instances of crime than those with scores of 80–100.
• Virginia Beach is generally as safe as Huntsville, according to their similar safety index ratings. The ratings are based on how comfortable residents feel about walking alone during the daytime and nighttime and the number of small crimes like theft and muggings.
• The air quality in Virginia Beach and Huntsville is generally the same (Good). Cities with good to moderate ratings have clean or acceptable air quality, with the possibility of small pollutants affecting people with certain health conditions like asthma. Anything beyond the moderate rate means increased impact on residents.

Other things to consider for your Huntsville vs. Virginia Beach move

• Weather: Virginia Beach has winters that are cool with light snowfall. Summers are hot and humid. The wettest season is summer, specifically July to early September, with August being the single wettest month.
• HOA rules: Check ahead with any neighborhood or community rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
• Elevator reservation: If your building has an elevator you'll want to check on how to reserve it for move day.
• Truck parking permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles and moving trucks. Find out if you need any parking permits ahead of time.
• State licensing: In addition to filing tariffs and complying with insurance, bond, and highway safety requirements, all intrastate moving companies in Virginia must have a certificate from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (VaDMV). Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
• State regulator: You can verify a Virginia moving license and its status through the state's public utilities commission.
• Moving permits: Virginia does not require any moving permits, but it is helpful to check local parking restrictions before moving into the state.
• Change of address: We recommend submitting your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move. You can set an official move date on the form and this way all of your mail will get properly forwarded to Virginia Beach. Get started here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state requires moving companies to carry different levels of insurance.In Virginia, movers commonly offer Released Value Protection at no additional cost, providing coverage at 60 cents per pound. For increased protection, consider discussing Full Value Protection options with the moving company. Alternatively, explore third-party insurance providers for personalized plans. It's essential to understand coverage limits, potential additional costs, and read reviews to make an informed decision about your moving insurance in Virginia.
• Moving checklist: Our moving checklist will help you have the peace of mind that you've got everything covered.

Where to live in Virginia Beach

Now that you've decided to make the move to "Neptune City", these are the best neighborhoods to move to in Virginia Beach.

Helpful moving resources