Rents are right about where Virginia Beach's 10-year trend predicts.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,086 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: September 25, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in Virginia Beach usually run 0.9% below trend in January and 0.9% above it in August, about $38 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Virginia Beach is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Virginia Beach changed +6.8% over the year to August 2026. Across the 66 Virginia cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.3%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Virginia Beach rose 40.9% while median household income rose 21.4% ($76,610 to $92,968). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Virginia Beach is 53.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 36.8% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 12 months in a row, and rose in 12 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($92,968) is $2,324 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,014); a 3-bedroom is $2,803.
The priciest of 8 ZIP codes in Virginia Beach, 23456 ($2,644/mo), costs 44% more than the cheapest, 23452 ($1,842/mo).
Norfolk, 11 miles away, rents for 16% less ($1,757/mo), about $3,900 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Virginia Beach. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Virginia Beach, VA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 40.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Virginia Beach, VA has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Virginia Beach, VA stood at $1,503 in 2021 and currently runs about $2,086, reflecting a 38.8% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $81,810 to $92,968 across the same window, up 13.6% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 40.9% of adults here, versus 38.6% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Virginia Beach, VA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
Discussions about Virginia Beach
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Can you afford rent in Virginia Beach on your salary?
At $2,086/mo, how Virginia Beach rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Virginia Beach rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Virginia Beach. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Virginia Beach
Last updated: September 25, 2026
The median rent in Virginia Beach is $2,086/mo as of September 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,750/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,014/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,760/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,803/mo.
At 27% of local median household income ($92,968/yr), Virginia Beach ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Virginia Beach?
Is rent going up or down in Virginia Beach?
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Has rent outpaced income in Virginia Beach?
Which Virginia Beach neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Virginia Beach rent compare to other cities in Virginia?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Virginia Beach?
At $2,086/mo, rent takes ~27% of Virginia Beach's median household income ($92,968/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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