Is Norfolk expensive to live in?

Norfolk is around the middle of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,032 per month ranks #63 of 112 and is about the same as the $1,080 median.

What is the average rent in Norfolk?

Average rent in Norfolk, VA runs a studio around $1,102, a one-bedroom around $1,032, a two-bedroom around $1,214, a three-bedroom around $1,602 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Norfolk?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,032 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year. The median household income here is $64,017.

How much does it cost to live in Norfolk per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Norfolk is about $1,230 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Norfolk, VA

Population 235,037 · Virginia

~$1,230/mo est.1BR $1,032Home $271,900

Photo: Nathaniel Villaire / Unsplash

Compare with:

The cost of living in Norfolk, VA is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,032 a month — about the same as the $1,080 median across the 112 large US cities we track. Studios average $1,102 and two-bedrooms $1,214.

Median household income here is $64,017, 8% lower than the $69,423 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,230 before food and transport. Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,032

Studio

$1,102

1 Bedroom

$1,032

2 Bedroom

$1,214

3 Bedroom

$1,602

Buying a Home$271,900

Median Home Value

$271,900

Income$64,017

Median Household Income

$64,017

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,430

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesSouth

Milk (gal)

$4.00

Bread (lb)

$1.75

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

Average prices, South (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities17.6¢/kWh

Electricity

17.6¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$23.66/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-05-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.86/gal

Regular Gasoline (East Coast (PADD 1))

$3.86/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-17.

State Taxes (VA)5.3% sales

State Sales Tax

5.30%

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 5.75%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime479.5 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

479.5

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

3,800.7

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Norfolk Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 32.4 yrs

Median Age

32.4 yrs

Homeownership

45.7%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.7%

Avg Commute

22.9 min

Climate61.3°F

Avg Annual Temperature

61.3°F

Annual Precipitation

44.8 in

Norfolk cost of living — FAQ

Is Norfolk expensive to live in?: Norfolk is around the middle of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,032 per month ranks #63 of 112 and is about the same as the $1,080 median.
What is the average rent in Norfolk?: Average rent in Norfolk, VA runs a studio around $1,102, a one-bedroom around $1,032, a two-bedroom around $1,214, a three-bedroom around $1,602 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Norfolk?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,032 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year. The median household income here is $64,017.
How much does it cost to live in Norfolk per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Norfolk is about $1,230 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Norfolk with nearby cities

Norfolk vs Virginia Beach Norfolk vs Richmond Norfolk vs Annapolis Norfolk vs Washington Norfolk vs Raleigh Norfolk vs Baltimore

Nearby cities

Virginia Beach, VA 17 mi Richmond, VA 79 mi Annapolis, MD 147 mi Washington, DC 148 mi Raleigh, NC 150 mi Baltimore, MD 169 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.