($1,452) Movers From Houston, TX to Virginia Beach, VA

What to know before moving from Houston to Virginia Beach

Moving from Houston to Virginia Beach comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Virginia Beach is generally more expensive than Houston, 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 26% higher than in Houston, 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 Houston.
  Home prices in Virginia Beach are 52.5% higher than in Houston.
• Income in Virginia Beach is 17.2% higher than in Houston, 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 63.6% higher than in Houston. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• The cost of living for a family in Virginia Beach is 17.4% lower than in Houston.
• The unemployment rate in Virginia Beach is 17.07% higher than in Houston.
• You’ll spend less on retail and restaurants in Virginia Beach, since the city’s sales taxes in Virginia Beach are 27.27% lower than in Houston.
• State income taxes in Virginia Beach are 5.75% higher than in Houston.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $4,909.39 in Virginia Beach to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Houston.

How life is different in Houston vs. Virginia Beach

• Virginia Beach might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 80% less than Houston.
• Getting around Virginia Beach without a car might be more difficult than in Houston. Virginia Beach has a public transportation score of 3 out of 10, whereas Houston 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 Houston. Based on its score of 33 out of 100, Virginia Beach isn’t as walkable as Houston, which has a score of 47 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 Houston. While Houston 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.
• Virginia Beach has a lower crime rate than Houston based on scores of 42.0 and Houston's 63.5, 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 Houston, based on Virginia Beach’s safety index of 58.0 versus 36.5 for Houston. 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 Houston 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 Houston 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: It’s a good idea to look into your HOA or community regulations before moving day arrives.
• Elevator reservation: If your building has an elevator, it’s a good idea to secure a reservation before your moving day.
• Truck parking permits: To avoid fines or delays, check whether a parking permit is needed for your moving truck.
• 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). Before booking, ensure the moving company is officially licensed to handle your move.
• State regulator: To confirm a moving company’s license in Virginia, visit the state's public utilities commission
• Moving permits: While Virginia doesn’t mandate moving permits, checking local parking guidelines before your move-in day is still a good idea.
• Change of address: We recommend submitting your USPS change of address form at least one week before your move to ensure your mail gets forwarded to Virginia Beach without delay. You can select your official move date when completing the form. Start the process here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state sets its own rules for what insurance moving companies need to maintain. 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 gives you the peace of mind that comes with being fully prepared.

Where to live in Virginia Beach

With your sights set on "Neptune City", these are some of the most popular neighborhoods to consider in Virginia Beach.

Helpful moving resources