($1,098) Movers From Philadelphia, PA to Virginia Beach, VA

What to know before moving from Philadelphia to Virginia Beach

Moving from Philadelphia to Virginia Beach comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Virginia Beach is generally more expensive than Philadelphia, 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% higher than in Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia.
  Home prices in Virginia Beach are 85.5% higher than in Philadelphia.
• Income in Virginia Beach is 15.6% higher than in Philadelphia, 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 78.4% higher than in Philadelphia. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• The cost of living for a family in Virginia Beach is 4.5% lower than in Philadelphia.
• The unemployment rate in Virginia Beach is 54.72% lower than in Philadelphia.
• You’ll spend less on retail and restaurants in Virginia Beach, since the city’s sales taxes in Virginia Beach are 25.00% lower than in Philadelphia.
• State income taxes in Virginia Beach are 87.30% higher than in Philadelphia.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $5,351.83 in Virginia Beach to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Philadelphia.

How life is different in Philadelphia vs. Virginia Beach

• Virginia Beach might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 71% less than Philadelphia.
• Getting around Virginia Beach without a car might be more difficult than in Philadelphia. Virginia Beach has a public transportation score of 3 out of 10, whereas Philadelphia is ranked 9. 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 Philadelphia. Based on its score of 33 out of 100, Virginia Beach isn’t as walkable as Philadelphia, which has a score of 75 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 Philadelphia. While Philadelphia has a bike-friendliness score of 67 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.
• Virginia Beach has a lower crime rate than Philadelphia based on scores of 42.0 and Philadelphia's 66.09, respectively. The crime index shows how safe a city is perceived to be. So, a lower score generally means less crime.
• You might find more confidence in your overall safety in Virginia Beach than in Philadelphia, based on Virginia Beach’s safety index of 58.0 versus 33.91 for Philadelphia. With this index, higher scores indicate more safety, particularly around how comfortable residents feel walking alone during the day and at night.
• The air quality in Virginia Beach and Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia 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: To keep things running smoothly, make sure you're familiar with any HOA or community moving policies before the big day.
• Elevator reservation: Make sure to arrange elevator access in advance if your building requires reservations for moving.
• Truck parking permits: Make sure to look into local parking regulations—some areas require permits for large moving trucks.
• 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). Ensure the company you choose is licensed to handle your move.
• State regulator: You can verify a Virginia moving company\’s license by visiting the state'spublic utilities commission
• Moving permits: You won’t need a moving permit in Virginia, though it\’s smart to double-check any local parking restrictions ahead of your move.
• Change of address: To avoid missing any mail, we recommend submitting your USPS change of address form at least a week before your move. You can choose your official move date to make sure everything gets forwarded properly toVirginia Beach Start the process here.
• Moving company insurance: The amount and type of insurance movers must have depends on state regulations.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: Let our moving checklist guide you through the process and help ensure nothing slips through the cracks.

Where to live in Virginia Beach

Now that you’ve chosen "Neptune City" as your next home, here are a few of the best neighborhoods in Virginia Beach to check out.

Helpful moving resources