We find the cost of living high down here in Virginia Beach, although many find it lower than where they moved from. My rent is $900 in an independent living senior citizen apt complex. It includes all utilities except electric and cable and phone. Electric runs about $35/mo.

Cable here runs about $120 with DVR, one premium package, and HD. Our last apt was one of the less expensive regular ones, meaning we lived in a crime ridden neighborhood, and with util added in ran about $1100/mo. Most apt complexes here charge for water usage, something I normally expect to be included in the rent. Gas is near $4/gal and with lots of traffic lights and long waits at red it can get expensive.

Dr's office visit run $175. Groceries are high compared to what I was used to before moving down here, eggs $1.89/doz, bread $2.99/loaf, milk $4.19/gal., but if you watch sale ads you can find some better prices. If you go out to eat the sales tax is 10.5% (resort town), but only 5% for regular shopping.

Parking at the beach is $10/day, residents get a discount for evening visits. Elsewhere its for the most part free, due to not having a centralized downtown area.

Movies are only $5 for the matinée, otherwise $10. Add in a large soda and pop corn and you can add an extra $11 onto the tab. Soda is expensive, $5.99 for a 12 pack of Coke of Pepsi at the grocery store. Premium beer on sale can still run $8.99/6-pack. Soda runs $1.59/bottle in convenience stores.

A small home runs $200-$250K in local real estate ads.