Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,230 in Norfolk, VA versus $1,390 in Richmond, VA. Overall, Norfolk, VA is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Richmond, VA, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $64,017 in Norfolk, VA and $62,671 in Richmond, VA — about 2% higher in Norfolk, VA. Both cities are in Virginia, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs East Coast (PADD 1).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — South vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Norfolk vs Richmond — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Norfolk or Richmond?
- Norfolk, VA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Richmond, VA's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Norfolk than in Richmond?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Norfolk versus $48,000 in Richmond.
- Which has lower taxes, Norfolk or Richmond?
- Neither — both are in Virginia, so they share the same state tax rates: 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).