Richmond, VA vs Virginia Beach, VA: sales tax compared
Quick answer
Both metros apply the same combined sales tax rate of 6%, so a purchase costs the same at the register in either place — but the jurisdictions collecting that money differ, as the stacks below show.
- Rate gap
- 0%Percentage points, combined rate
- Extra tax on $1,000
- $0.00Paid in Virginia Beach
- Extra tax on $25,000
- $0.00Vehicle-sized purchase
Richmond, VA
Richmond City
6%
Combined rate · ranked #85 of 94 covered metros
| Level | Jurisdiction | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| state | Virginia state | 4.3% |
| county | City of Richmond local option | 1% |
| special district | Central Virginia regional transportation | 0.7% |
- Population
- 229,395
- Median household income
- $60,485
The Central Virginia regional add-on took effect in 2020 and applies across the Richmond region, not just inside the city.
Virginia Beach, VA
Virginia Beach City
6%
Combined rate · ranked #84 of 94 covered metros
| Level | Jurisdiction | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| state | Virginia state | 4.3% |
| county | City of Virginia Beach local option | 1% |
| special district | Hampton Roads regional transportation | 0.7% |
- Population
- 455,618
- Median household income
- $89,760
Virginia taxes groceries and personal hygiene products at a reduced 1% local-only rate statewide, including in Virginia Beach.
How the difference is calculated
Same arithmetic the calculator on every page runs.
Each combined rate is the sum of its listed state, county, city and special-district components — no rounding is applied before the total. The dollar gap is the rate difference (0%) applied to the pre-tax amount: 0% of $1,000 is $0.00. Neither figure includes product-specific exemptions; groceries, clothing and digital goods can be taxed at a different rate or not at all, which is covered on each state's rules page.
Questions people ask
Direct answers to the questions this comparison raises.
Which has a higher sales tax rate, Richmond or Virginia Beach?
Neither — both apply a combined rate of 6%.
How much more sales tax would I pay in Virginia Beach on a $1,000 purchase?
Nothing — the two combined rates are identical, so the tax on a $1,000 purchase is the same.
Why do Richmond and Virginia Beach have different rates?
The state share is 4.3% in VA and 4.3% in VA. The rest comes from county, city and special-district increments stacked on top, which are set locally and listed in full on this page.