County FMR · HUD FY2026

Virginia Beach city Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Virginia Beach city, VA - 58% above the US average.

$1,512
1-bedroom FMR
$1,713
2-bedroom FMR
+2.0%
YoY change
+58%
vs US avg

The verdict

Virginia Beach city is the 22nd most expensive of 133 counties in Virginia by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #283 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#283
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#22
most expensive of 133 in Virginia (2BR)
+28%
vs the state average
$60,480
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (13.5%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (62.4%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Virginia Beach city, VA. Verify with HUD →

Virginia Beach city, Virginia carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,512 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,713/mo and a studio is $1,492/mo. That's 58% above the national benchmark of $959 and 28% above the Virginia average of $1,182.

Rent increased2.0% from FY 2025 ($1,483), roughly tracking inflation. Clearing the 30% rule here takes $60,480/year, a high bar relative to most US counties.

Observed renter burden: 49.5% of the 63,071 renter households counted by ACS paid at least 30% of income in gross rent. This ACS 2023 household measure is distinct from HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent benchmark above.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Virginia. Population: 457,900. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+1.5%, Census ACS). That's in line with Virginia's statewide growth of +2.9% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area VIRGINIA·BEACH·CITY·VA·VA

Virginia Beach city, VA: $1,512/mo 1BR · #283 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA VA
  • 1BR-FMR $1,512
  • 2BR-FMR $1,713
  • RANK-UPPER #283
  • YOY-FLAT +2.0%
  • VSUS-HIGH +58%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +28% VA
  • INC-MID 20%
  • POP-MAJOR 458K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Fairfax County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,361–$1,663
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Fairfax ($503 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,137 · US avg: $893
$1,492/mo
↑ 1.2% YoY +31% vs state +67% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,182 · US avg: $959
$1,512/mo
↑ 2.0% YoY +28% vs state +58% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,369 · US avg: $1,175
$1,713/mo
↑ 1.0% YoY +25% vs state +46% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,789 · US avg: $1,525
$2,376/mo
↑ 0.6% YoY +33% vs state +56% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,128 · US avg: $1,756
$2,797/mo
↓ 0.4% YoY +31% vs state +59% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,475
$1,492
+$17 (+1.2%)
1 Bedroom $1,483
$1,512
+$29 (+2.0%)
2 Bedroom $1,696
$1,713
+$17 (+1.0%)
3 Bedroom $2,361
$2,376
+$15 (+0.6%)
4 Bedroom $2,809
$2,797
$-12 (-0.4%)

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in Virginia Beach city. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
19.7%
Affordable
Need $59,680/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
20%
Affordable
Need $60,480/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
22.7%
Affordable
Need $68,520/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
31.4%
Burdened
Need $95,040/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
37%
Burdened
Need $111,880/yr for 30% rule
How we calculate this

Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.

0%100%National avg22%22.7%
Virginia Beach city 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $90,685 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Virginia rent burden →

Where Virginia Beach city sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$1,713 Top 9% higher than 91% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Below this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Below this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). This entry sits in this band. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026

How Virginia Beach city compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Virginia counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Virginia Beach city is highlighted. Nearby Virginia counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Fairfax County ($2,015), Prince William County ($2,015), Loudoun County ($2,015), Virginia Beach city (this county) ($1,512), Chesapeake city ($1,512), Chesterfield County ($1,507), Henrico County ($1,507).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

Against a high local FMR of $1,512/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Virginia BLS wages?

Occupation VA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $134,470 13.5% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $121,530 14.9% Affordable
Registered Nurses $88,820 20.4% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $84,190 21.6% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $65,110 27.9% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $62,270 29.1% Affordable
Electricians $61,610 29.4% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $61,200 29.6% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $54,500 33.3% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $42,490 42.7% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $39,210 46.3% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $36,650 49.5% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $33,970 53.4% Unaffordable
Retail Salespersons $32,760 55.4% Unaffordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $29,060 62.4% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (Virginia) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Virginia Beach city. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Virginia Beach city (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 57.8% overall, from $958 to $1,512. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +15.2% in FY 2025, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$800$1,000$1,200$1,400$1,600 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,512
Virginia Beach city 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑2.0% $1,492 $1,512 $1,713
FY 2025 ↑15.2% $1,475 $1,483 $1,696
FY 2024 ↑13.2% $1,279 $1,287 $1,493
FY 2023 ↑12.0% $1,116 $1,137 $1,329
FY 2022 ↑4.4% $993 $1,015 $1,193
FY 2021 ↑1.5% $960 $972 $1,147
FY 2020 $952 $958 $1,136
Total change (6yr): +57.8%
Annualized: +7.9%/yr
1 BR: $958 → $1,512

Part of the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC Metro Area

Virginia Beach city is a central county of the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metropolitan statistical area, alongside 17 other metro-area counties.

Virginia Beach city ranks #16 of 18 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Gates County ($1,513), Chesapeake city ($1,512), Norfolk city ($1,512), Newport News city ($1,512), Hampton city ($1,512), Portsmouth city ($1,512), Suffolk city ($1,512), James City County ($1,512), York County ($1,512), Isle of Wight County ($1,512), Gloucester County ($1,512), Currituck County ($1,512), Williamsburg city ($1,512), Poquoson city ($1,512), Mathews County ($1,512), Virginia Beach city (this county) ($1,512), Camden County ($1,139), Surry County ($920).

Gates County
1 BR: $1,513/mo
Chesapeake city
1 BR: $1,512/mo
Norfolk city
1 BR: $1,512/mo
Newport News city
1 BR: $1,512/mo
Hampton city
1 BR: $1,512/mo
Portsmouth city
1 BR: $1,512/mo
Suffolk city
1 BR: $1,512/mo
James City County
1 BR: $1,512/mo
York County
1 BR: $1,512/mo
Isle of Wight County
1 BR: $1,512/mo
Gloucester County
1 BR: $1,512/mo
Currituck County
1 BR: $1,512/mo
Virginia Beach city (this county)
1 BR: $1,512/mo
Show all 18 counties in this metro area
Williamsburg city
1 BR: $1,512/mo
Poquoson city
1 BR: $1,512/mo
Mathews County
1 BR: $1,512/mo
Camden County
1 BR: $1,139/mo
Surry County
1 BR: $920/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Virginia Beach city, both outside Virginia so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.

Similar 2-bedroom FMR

Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside VA (FY2026).

Mendocino County
CA · 2 BR $1,713/mo
Currituck County
NC · 2 BR $1,713/mo
Durham County
NC · 2 BR $1,711/mo
Orange County
NC · 2 BR $1,711/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside VA).

Duplin County
NC · 22.7% of income · 2 BR $980/mo
Hawkins County
TN · 22.7% of income · 2 BR $1,044/mo
Pennington County
SD · 22.7% of income · 2 BR $1,336/mo
Hardy County
WV · 22.7% of income · 2 BR $932/mo

Nearby Counties in Virginia

Largest counties by population in Virginia

Showing the 8 largest of 132 other counties in Virginia.

Fairfax County
1 BR: $2,015/mo Pop: 1,145,354
Prince William County
1 BR: $2,015/mo Pop: 481,114
Loudoun County
1 BR: $2,015/mo Pop: 420,773
Chesterfield County
1 BR: $1,507/mo Pop: 366,019
Henrico County
1 BR: $1,507/mo Pop: 333,120
Chesapeake city
1 BR: $1,512/mo Pop: 249,377
Norfolk city
1 BR: $1,512/mo Pop: 236,973
Arlington County
1 BR: $2,015/mo Pop: 235,845
View all counties in Virginia →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Virginia Beach city? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Virginia Beach city is $1,512 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,713 and a studio is $1,492.
How does Virginia Beach city rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Virginia Beach city is 58% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,512 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Virginia Beach city rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Virginia Beach city's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,713 ranks #283 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the highest-rent tenth of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Virginia Beach city? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $60,480 ($5,040/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Virginia Beach city.
Is rent going up or down in Virginia Beach city? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Virginia Beach city increased by 2.0% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,483 to $1,512.
Which jobs can afford rent in Virginia Beach city? ▼
Based on Virginia BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,512/mo. 8 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Virginia Beach city over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Virginia Beach city went from $958 in FY 2020 to $1,512 in FY 2026, a total change of +57.8% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Virginia Beach city? ▼
In Virginia Beach city, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,512/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Virginia Beach city? ▼
For Virginia Beach city, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,512/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.