($1,504) Movers From Riverside, CA to Virginia Beach, VA

What to know before moving from Riverside to Virginia Beach

Moving from Riverside to Virginia Beach comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Virginia Beach is generally more expensive than Riverside, 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 15% lower than in Riverside, which means you’ll have more money in your pocket each month.
• In terms of homeownership, you’ll be able to get more for your money in Virginia Beach.
  Home prices in Virginia Beach are 37.4% lower than in Riverside.
• Income in Virginia Beach is 6.6% higher than in Riverside, 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 76.2% higher than in Riverside. 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 5.5% higher than in Riverside.
• The unemployment rate in Virginia Beach is 32.39% lower than in Riverside.
• You’ll spend less on retail and restaurants in Virginia Beach, since the city’s sales taxes in Virginia Beach are 31.43% lower than in Riverside.
• One perk of moving to Virginia Beach is paying less in state income taxes, which are 56.77% lower than in Riverside.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $5,285.27 in Virginia Beach to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Riverside.

How life is different in Riverside vs. Virginia Beach

• The population of Virginia Beach is about 44% greater than Riverside, 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.
• Getting around Virginia Beach without a car might be more difficult than in Riverside. Virginia Beach has a public transportation score of 3 out of 10, whereas Riverside is ranked 5. Ratings are based on a city’s transit connectivity, service frequency, and accessibility to key destinations like jobs and grocery stores.
• Virginia Beach neighborhoods and districts might not be as easy to navigate on foot as Riverside. Based on its score of 33 out of 100, Virginia Beach isn’t as walkable as Riverside, which has a score of 43 out of 100. The higher the walkability score a city has, the easier it is to access amenities. The most walkable cities also tend to be more densely populated and have shorter block lengths.
• You probably won’t see as many cycling lanes or off-road trails in Virginia Beach, which is ranked as less bike-friendly than Riverside. While Riverside has a bike-friendliness score of 49 out of 100, Virginia Beach earned a 42. Scores are based on factors like whether a city accommodates cyclists on major roadways, how often people bike to work, and how many steep hills it has.
• You can anticipate the same crime rate in Virginia Beach as Riverside. 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 Riverside, 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.
• You can breathe easy knowing that Virginia Beach has better air quality than in Riverside. Virginia Beach has Good air quality, compared to moderate in Riverside. Ratings of good to moderate mean very low risk of health concerns, although people with conditions like asthma or allergies could be affected. Beyond the moderate rating, health concerns increase for some or all residents.

Other things to consider for your Riverside 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