Is it cheaper to live in Lexington or Norfolk?

Lexington, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Norfolk, VA's $1,230, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Lexington than in Norfolk?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lexington versus $41,000 in Norfolk.

Which has lower taxes, Lexington or Norfolk?

Lexington is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Norfolk under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax).

Lexington vs Norfolk Cost of Living 2026

Lexington

Kentucky

$1,070/mo est.

Norfolk

Virginia

$1,230/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,070 in Lexington, KY versus $1,230 in Norfolk, VA. Overall, Lexington, KY is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Norfolk, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,631 in Lexington, KY and $64,017 in Norfolk, VA — about 5% higher in Lexington, KY. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Lexington, KY

Norfolk, VA

Rent

Studio

$769

$1,102

+43% in Norfolk, VA

1 Bedroom

$887

$1,032

+16% in Norfolk, VA

2 Bedroom

$1,119

$1,214

+8% in Norfolk, VA

3 Bedroom

$1,408

$1,602

+14% in Norfolk, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$272,100

$271,900

+0% in Lexington, KY

Income

Median Household Income

$67,631

$64,017

+5% in Lexington, KY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,620

$49,430

+2% in Norfolk, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

32.4 yr

+2.8 yr in Lexington, KY

Homeownership

53.6%

45.7%

+7.9 pp in Lexington, KY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

47.3%

32.7%

+14.6 pp in Lexington, KY

Avg Commute

20.8 min

22.9 min

+2.1 min in Norfolk, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

269.1

479.5

+78% in Norfolk, VA

Property Crime

2,304.4

3,800.7

+65% 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

55.6°F

61.3°F

+5.7°F in Norfolk, VA

Annual Precipitation

45.2 in

44.8 in

+0.4 in in Lexington, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.86/gal

+2% in Lexington, KY

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.0

17.6

+18% in Norfolk, VA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.48

$23.66

+20% in Lexington, KY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.75

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KY / VA)

5.3%

+0.7 pp in KY

Income Tax (top rate)

3.50%

5.75%

+2.3 pp in VA

Lexington vs Norfolk — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Lexington or Norfolk?: Lexington, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Norfolk, VA's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Lexington than in Norfolk?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Lexington versus $41,000 in Norfolk.
Which has lower taxes, Lexington or Norfolk?: Lexington is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% 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).