What is the cost of living in Suffolk, VA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Suffolk has an overall cost of living index of 116, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Virginia, Suffolk has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Virginia's index of 112.
The standard of living in Suffolk ranks as #71 most affordable out of the 188 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies Suffolk ranks as the #117 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.
For more reading on life in Suffolk, check out:
Suffolk Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Suffolk. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Suffolk is 103.
The Groceries index in Suffolk is 105.
The Health index in Suffolk is 144.
The Housing index in Suffolk is 103.
The Transportation index in Suffolk is 103.
The Utilities index in Suffolk is 102.
| Living Expense | Suffolk | Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 116 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 105 | 104 | 100 |
| Health | 144 | 131 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 105 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 104 | 100 |
Suffolk 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 Suffolk Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Suffolk, 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 Suffolk is $384,300.
The Median Rent in Suffolk is $1,563.
The Median Income in Suffolk is $92,666.
The Home Value To Income in Suffolk is 4.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Suffolk is 0.2x.
Suffolk, VA Costs By Category
Detailed Suffolk Services costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Suffolk Groceries costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Suffolk Health costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Suffolk Transportation costs vs. Virginia
Suffolk SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Suffolk
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Suffolk. 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, 1.0x Suffolk.
Chesapeake, VA has a cost of living index of 117, 1.0x Suffolk.
Norfolk, VA has a cost of living index of 109, 0.9x Suffolk.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Suffolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA | 456,349 | 118 | 1.0x |
| Chesapeake, VA | 252,583 | 117 | 1.0x |
| Norfolk, VA | 233,596 | 109 | 0.9x |
| Newport News, VA | 184,216 | 103 | 0.9x |
| Hampton, VA | 137,557 | 107 | 0.9x |
| Elizabeth, NJ | 137,302 | 125 | 1.1x |
| Poquoson, VA | 12,639 | 125 | 1.1x |
| Gloucester Point, VA | 11,109 | 110 | 0.9x |
| Smithfield, VA | 8,834 | 116 | 1.0x |
| Carrollton, VA | 8,436 | 126 | 1.1x |
