Norfolk, VA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Norfolk, VA Summary

Cost of living in Norfolk research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Norfolk is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Virginia, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Norfolk is 103, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Norfolk is 1.0x higher than the national average.

  • Norfolk ranks as the #42 cheapest in Virginia out of 190.

  • Norfolk ranks as the #2,952 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Norfolk is $302,206.

  • The median income in Norfolk is $64,017.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
103
Norfolk's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Norfolk, VA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Norfolk has an overall cost of living index of 103, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Virginia, Norfolk has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Virginia's index of 110.

The standard of living in Norfolk ranks as #42 most affordable out of the 190 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies Norfolk ranks as the #148 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.

For more reading on life in Norfolk, check out:

42 out of 190
In Virginia
2,952 out of 6,489
In America

Norfolk Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Norfolk. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Norfolk is 101.

  • The Groceries index in Norfolk is 100.

  • The Health index in Norfolk is 96.

  • The Housing index in Norfolk is 117.

  • The Transportation index in Norfolk is 98.

  • The Utilities index in Norfolk is 106.

Living Expense Norfolk Virginia National Average
Overall 103 110 100
Services 101 101 100
Groceries 100 99 100
Health 96 98 100
Housing 117 130 100
Transportation 98 94 100
Utilities 106 104 100
For more reading on cost of living around Virginia, check out:
Norfolk Cost of Living Vs. VA

Norfolk, VA Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Virginia, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Norfolk is $302,206.

  • The Median Rent in Norfolk is $1,246.

  • The Median Income in Norfolk is $64,017.

  • The Home Value To Income in Norfolk is 4.7x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Norfolk is 0.23x.

Statistic Norfolk Virginia United States
Median Home Value $302,206 $404,962 $303,400
Median Rent $1,246 $1,514 $1,348
Median Income $64,017 $90,974 $78,538
Home Value To Income 4.7x 4.5x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.23x 0.2x 0.21x
$302,206
Median Home Value
$1,246
Median Rent
$64,017
Median Income

Norfolk, VA Costs By Category

Detailed Norfolk Services Costs Vs. Virginia

Item Norfolk Virginia
Shampoo $1.26 $1.28
Movie $13.31 $12.13
Bowling $24.17 $18
Haircut $20.0 $24.26
Beauty Salon $54.17 $45.56

Detailed Norfolk Groceries Costs Vs. Virginia

Item Norfolk Virginia
Ground Beef $5.54 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.44 $1.57
Milk $4.63 $4.67
Potatoes $5.27 $4.93
Pizza $12.72 $12.09
Beer $10.64 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.72 $3.7

Detailed Norfolk Health Costs Vs. Virginia

Item Norfolk Virginia
Optometrist $95.44 $125.68
Doctor $122.83 $135.78
Dentist $109.67 $113.29

Detailed Norfolk Transportation Costs Vs. Virginia

Item Norfolk Virginia
Gasoline $3.27 $3.46
Tire Balancing $60.0 $59.92

Detailed Norfolk Utilities Costs Vs. Virginia

Item Norfolk Virginia
All Electricity $227.22 $193.99
Phone $185.33 $192.25

Norfolk SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
8
Affordability
5
Diversity
9.5
Safety
4
Amenities
10
Education
7
Commute
8.5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Norfolk

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Norfolk. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Virginia Beach, VA has a cost of living index of 116, 1.1x Norfolk.

  • Chesapeake, VA has a cost of living index of 117, 1.1x Norfolk.

  • Newport News, VA has a cost of living index of 104, 1.0x Norfolk.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Norfolk
Virginia Beach, VA 457,066 116 1.1x
Chesapeake, VA 251,153 117 1.1x
Newport News, VA 184,774 104 1.0x
Hampton, VA 137,334 102 1.0x
Portsmouth, VA 97,299 103 1.0x
Poquoson, VA 12,556 124 1.2x
Smithfield, VA 8,729 115 1.1x
Carrollton, VA 7,903 123 1.2x

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