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 109, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Virginia, Norfolk has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Virginia's index of 112.
The standard of living in Norfolk ranks as #53 most affordable out of the 188 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies Norfolk ranks as the #135 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.
For more reading on life in Norfolk, check out:
Norfolk Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Norfolk. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Norfolk is 103.
The Groceries index in Norfolk is 103.
The Health index in Norfolk is 116.
The Housing index in Norfolk is 108.
The Transportation index in Norfolk is 107.
The Utilities index in Norfolk is 103.
| Living Expense | Norfolk | Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 109 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 103 | 104 | 100 |
| Health | 116 | 131 | 100 |
| Housing | 108 | 105 | 100 |
| Transportation | 107 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 103 | 104 | 100 |
Norfolk Cost Of Living Compared To Virginia Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Virginia, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Norfolk Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Norfolk is $306,226.
The Median Rent in Norfolk is $1,321.
The Median Income in Norfolk is $66,109.
The Home Value To Income in Norfolk is 4.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Norfolk is 0.24x.
Norfolk, VA Costs By Category
Detailed Norfolk Services costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Norfolk Groceries costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Norfolk Health costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Norfolk Transportation costs vs. Virginia
Norfolk SnackAbility
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 118, 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 103, 0.9x Norfolk.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA | 456,349 | 118 | 1.1x |
| Chesapeake, VA | 252,583 | 117 | 1.1x |
| Newport News, VA | 184,216 | 103 | 0.9x |
| Hampton, VA | 137,557 | 107 | 1.0x |
| Portsmouth, VA | 97,190 | 104 | 1.0x |
| Poquoson, VA | 12,639 | 125 | 1.1x |
| Smithfield, VA | 8,834 | 116 | 1.1x |
| Carrollton, VA | 8,436 | 126 | 1.2x |
