City comparison
No. Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 167 in Chicago, and its violent crime index is 29 versus 139, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Chicago is cheaper. Median rent is $1,440 a month versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Safety is where Chicago and Virginia Beach split most clearly. Virginia Beach scores 105 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,440 in Chicago and $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Virginia Beach is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Chicago makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Virginia Beach is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Chicago at $1,440 average has pockets that run $1,240 and others at $1,840: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Chicago and Virginia Beach are 712 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,440 a month in Chicago to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, up $274 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $77,902 in Chicago to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, up $15,066 (19%).
The crime index goes from 167 in Chicago to 62 in Virginia Beach, down 105 points (63%).
The move
Virginia Beach and Chicago are 712 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $1,440 a month in Chicago, down $274 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $77,902 in Chicago, down $15,066 (16%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 167 in Chicago, up 105 points (169%).
Chicago, IL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Virginia Beach, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Chicago and Virginia Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Chicago rent is 16% cheaper than Virginia Beach
Chicago
Winner$1,440/mo
Virginia Beach
$1,714/mo
Typical rent runs $1,440 a month in Chicago versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach, so Chicago is 16% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,288, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Chicago still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Virginia Beach.
Planning to buy in Virginia Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
19% higher
Virginia Beach's median income is 19% higher than Chicago
Chicago
$77,902
Virginia Beach
Winner$92,968
Median household income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $77,902 in Chicago, so typical pay runs 19% higher in Virginia Beach (about $15,066 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Virginia Beach is the stronger labor market on paper. Chicago can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
63% lower crime
Virginia Beach's crime index is 63% lower than Chicago
Chicago
167 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 167 in Chicago (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 63% lower in Virginia Beach. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Virginia Beach is the easier city. Chicago can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Virginia Beach weather is 20% more comfortable than Chicago
Chicago
59°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 83/100
Virginia Beach
Winner66°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 100/100
Chicago averages about 59°F (65°F highs); Virginia Beach averages about 66°F (70°F highs). Chicago averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Virginia Beach sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Virginia Beach scores 20% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Chicago if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Chicago
Chicago is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $1,440 a month. Choose Chicago if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 19% higher ($92,968), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 66°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Virginia Beach is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 63% lower than Chicago (62 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Virginia Beach: Virginia Beach scores 75/100 versus 44/100 in Chicago, with typical rent at $1,714 versus $1,440. I would vet the exact ZIP in Chicago before trading 31 safety points for housing savings.
Virginia Beach still pays more locally ($92,968 median income vs $77,902), which can offset the lease if your field pays Virginia Beach rates.
Median income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $77,902 in Chicago.
If safety drives your move, Virginia Beach is the stronger match (75/100 safety versus 44/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Chicago, treat $1,440/month rent and $77,902 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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