($1,474) Movers From San Antonio, TX to Virginia Beach, VA

What to know before moving from San Antonio to Virginia Beach

Moving from San Antonio to Virginia Beach comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Virginia Beach is generally more expensive than San Antonio, 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 30% higher than in San Antonio, 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 San Antonio.
  Home prices in Virginia Beach are 61.3% higher than in San Antonio.
• Income in Virginia Beach is 31.0% higher than in San Antonio, 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 106.6% higher than in San Antonio. 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 19.9% higher than in San Antonio.
• The unemployment rate in Virginia Beach is 26.32% higher than in San Antonio.
• 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 San Antonio.
• State income taxes in Virginia Beach are 5.75% higher than in San Antonio.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $6,198.27 in Virginia Beach to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in San Antonio.

How life is different in San Antonio vs. Virginia Beach

• Virginia Beach might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 68% less than San Antonio.
• Getting around Virginia Beach without a car might be more difficult than in San Antonio. Virginia Beach has a public transportation score of 3 out of 10, whereas San Antonio is ranked 6. 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 San Antonio. Based on its score of 33 out of 100, Virginia Beach isn’t as walkable as San Antonio, which has a score of 37 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.
• Virginia Beach and San Antonio are similarly bike-friendly based on their comparable ratings of 42 and 45 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.
• Virginia Beach has a lower crime rate than San Antonio based on scores of 42.0 and San Antonio's 48.06, 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 San Antonio, based on Virginia Beach’s safety index of 58.0 versus 51.94 for San Antonio. With this index, higher scores indicate more safety, particularly around how comfortable residents feel walking alone during the day and at night.
• You can breathe easy knowing that Virginia Beach has better air quality than in San Antonio. Virginia Beach has Good air quality, compared to moderate in San Antonio. 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 San Antonio 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