City comparison
No. Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 87 in El Paso, and its violent crime index is 29 versus 88, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
The income gap between El Paso and Virginia Beach is significant: $59,745 median household versus $92,968. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,073 in El Paso and $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. El Paso costs less and Virginia Beach pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. El Paso at $1,073 average has pockets that run $873 and others at $1,473: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
El Paso and Virginia Beach are 1,769 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, up $641 a month (60%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, up $33,223 (56%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 62 in Virginia Beach, down 25 points (29%).
The move
Virginia Beach and El Paso are 1,769 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $641 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $59,745 in El Paso, down $33,223 (36%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 87 in El Paso, up 25 points (40%).
El Paso, TX
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 El Paso and Virginia Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
37% cheaper
El Paso rent is 37% cheaper than Virginia Beach
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Virginia Beach
$1,714/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach, so El Paso is 37% cheaper. That's roughly $641/month back in your pocket ($7,692/year). Over five years that's $38,460 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Virginia Beach, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, El Paso is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
56% higher
Virginia Beach's median income is 56% higher than El Paso
El Paso
$59,745
Virginia Beach
Winner$92,968
Median household income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 56% higher in Virginia Beach (about $33,223 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. El Paso can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
29% lower crime
Virginia Beach's crime index is 29% lower than El Paso
El Paso
87 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 87 in El Paso (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 29% 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. El Paso can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
El Paso weather is 20% more comfortable than Virginia Beach
El Paso
Winner66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Virginia Beach
59°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 83/100
El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); Virginia Beach averages about 59°F (63°F highs). El Paso sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Virginia Beach averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. El Paso 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 Virginia Beach if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
El Paso is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 37% cheaper here at about $1,073 a month. Choose El Paso if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick El Paso if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (66°F) beat Virginia Beach on this page's weather index by 20%. Virginia Beach may pay more or cost less, but El Paso is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Virginia Beach is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 56% higher here ($92,968). Start with Virginia Beach if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 29% lower than El Paso (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
Rent is the clearest fork: El Paso at $1,073/month versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach ($641 apart). Virginia Beach median income is $92,968 against $59,745 in El Paso, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
El Paso rent at $1,073/month is still below Virginia Beach's $1,714, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 64/100 in El Paso and 75/100 in Virginia Beach.
El Paso clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Virginia Beach deserves a serious look only when your $92,968 income offer in Virginia Beach outweighs saving $641/month in El Paso.
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