Living Cost Compare
Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/mo est.

vs
Norfolk

Virginia

$1,230/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,090 in Huntsville, AL versus $1,230 in Norfolk, VA. Overall, Huntsville, AL is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Norfolk, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,778 in Huntsville, AL and $64,017 in Norfolk, VA — about 10% higher in Huntsville, AL. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Huntsville, AL
Norfolk, VA

Rent

Studio
$815
$1,102
+35% in Norfolk, VA
1 Bedroom
$900
$1,032
+15% in Norfolk, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,080
$1,214
+12% in Norfolk, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,251
$1,602
+28% in Norfolk, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$263,100
$271,900
+3% in Norfolk, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$70,778
$64,017
+10% in Huntsville, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,740
$49,430
+4% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
32.4 yr
+4.0 yr in Huntsville, AL
Homeownership
58.1%
45.7%
+12.4 pp in Huntsville, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.2%
32.7%
+13.5 pp in Huntsville, AL
Avg Commute
19.3 min
22.9 min
+3.6 min in Norfolk, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
483.2
479.5
+1% in Huntsville, AL
Property Crime
2,395.7
3,800.7
+59% in Norfolk, VA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
62.1°F
61.3°F
+0.8°F in Huntsville, AL
Annual Precipitation
54.3 in
44.8 in
+9.6 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Norfolk, VA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
17.2
+5% in Norfolk, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$27.20
+13% in Norfolk, VA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — South vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / VA)
4%
5.3%
+1.3 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
5.75%
+0.8 pp in VA

Huntsville vs Norfolk — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Norfolk?
Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Norfolk, VA's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntsville than in Norfolk?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $41,000 in Norfolk.
Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Norfolk?
Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Norfolk under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).