The Cost of Living Diaries: Hampton Roads, VA
How much does it cost to live in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia? We asked a local to give us all of the details.
The Hampton Roads region of Virginia (consisting of Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Newport News and Hampton) is consistently one of the most popular areas featured on Livability. It is a beautiful, welcoming city with endless things to do. So, how much does it really cost to live in this region of Virginia? We asked a local to give us the scoop on everything from the cost of rent to lattes to a great dinner out.
Rebecca Vickers
Chesapeake, VA
Profession: Stay At Home Mom/PT Instructional Team Member for Regent University School of Education
My husband and I have lived in the Hampton Roads area, which encompasses Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Newport News and Hampton, for 11 years. I previously lived here from 2002-2008. We moved to the area in 2012 so my husband could attend Regent University and we could attend my former church.
The Hampton Roads area is exceedingly diverse! Parts of the region give off a great urban and city vibe, while other parts of the area have that classic suburban feel.
We aren’t known for being budget-friendly, but the outskirts of the Hampton Roads area are notably more affordable. More often than not, rent around here can be equivalent to what you would expect to pay for a comparable mortgage.
There are plenty of grocery stores in the area. For health reasons, we’ve decided to focus on organic and natural foods, and we’ve done our research to figure out the best places to shop to make that as budget-friendly as possible. Our average grocery bill is between $250 and $300 a week, which has increased lately due to rising food costs.
The Hampton Roads area is very family-friendly! Many parts of the area boast a small-town vibe, which is perfect for raising a family.
There is a variety of childcare options here, but it does come at a cost. For our family, we had to make the choice between me working full time and paying for childcare or staying at home since childcare would have taken the majority of my full-time paycheck.
When my husband and I go out to eat, we spend an average of $40 to $70, depending on where we go. We tend to like farm-to-table restaurants, and some of our favorites are The Bee and the Biscuit, First Watch, Baker’s Crust, Simple Eats and The Butcher’s Son — just to name a few.
I love to go to Pale Horse and 17 Hands.
This is a fun and diverse place to explore, especially given the multitude of beaches, museums, parks and historical attractions. Navigating traffic can get a little overwhelming, especially during peak travel hours, but otherwise, this is a great place to visit, explore, and live.
There are a lot of beaches, art museums, scientific museums and state parks that are worth visiting. We also have a great zoo, a number of botanical gardens, and several historical sites nearby, like Williamsburg, Jamestown and Cape Henry.
Due to the size of the Hampton Roads area, most of the area is not walkable. There is a city bus system along with a light rail system in a couple of the cities, but most people drive to where they need to go.
My favorite thing about where we live is the small-town vibe that makes it feel like home. I think we have a great diversity in places to go too, from downtown Norfolk and the historical areas around Williamsburg to the sandy beaches. The parks and botanical gardens, the variety of restaurants, and festivals throughout all four seasons are high up on my list of favorite things about life here, too.