01 · the cities
Miami
Miami is Spanish before it's English, salsa before it's small talk, and a cortadito before it's a coffee. South Beach Art Deco glows pink at night, Wynwood is a city-sized mural, and the Cuban sandwiches in Little Havana could end fights. Summer is bath-warm ocean and ceiling fans turned up high, and October feels like everywhere else's perfect August. Bring linen.
full dispatch→Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach is a three-mile boardwalk, a giant Neptune statue keeping watch, and Atlantic surf that's warm in August and gentle in September. The military presence (Navy and Air Force) gives the city a structured, welcoming feel. False Cape and Back Bay nature areas are wild marshland just south of the high-rises. October on the boardwalk might be the prettiest month on the East Coast.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,665/mo
$1,819/mo
$846/mo less than Miami (47%)
Median home price
Median home price
$565k
$375k
$190k less than Miami
State income tax
State income tax
0%
5.8%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$5,668/mo
$6,035/mo
Virginia Beach has $367/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
272 days
211 days
61 fewer than Miami
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
1 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
2 days
days below 20°F per year
Miami edges ahead on pleasant days, but both cities have comparable comfort overall.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
77 / 100
57 / 100
20.0 pts behind Miami
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
167 routes
17 routes
150 fewer direct routes than Miami
Metro size
Metro size
6.2M metro
1.8M metro
Miami has 32.9x more events per month than Virginia Beach.
the verdict
4
Miami
categories won
3
Virginia Beach
categories won
Miami wins on weather and lifestyle. Virginia Beach has the edge on money.
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