Is it cheaper to live in Norfolk or St. Louis?

St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Norfolk, VA's $1,230, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Norfolk than in St. Louis?

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

Which has lower taxes, Norfolk or St. Louis?

Norfolk is taxed under Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Norfolk vs St. Louis Cost of Living 2026

Norfolk

Virginia

$1,230/mo est.

St. Louis

Missouri

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,230 in Norfolk, VA versus $1,030 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, St. Louis, MO is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Norfolk, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,017 in Norfolk, VA and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 14% higher in Norfolk, VA. Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Norfolk, VA

St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio

$1,102

$864

+22% in Norfolk, VA

1 Bedroom

$1,032

$866

+16% in Norfolk, VA

2 Bedroom

$1,214

$1,109

+9% in Norfolk, VA

3 Bedroom

$1,602

$1,135

+29% in Norfolk, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$271,900

$185,100

+32% in Norfolk, VA

Income

Median Household Income

$64,017

$55,279

+14% in Norfolk, VA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,430

$49,990

+1% in St. Louis, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

32.4 yr

36.6 yr

+4.2 yr in St. Louis, MO

Homeownership

45.7%

45.4%

+0.3 pp in Norfolk, VA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.7%

40.2%

+7.5 pp in St. Louis, MO

Avg Commute

22.9 min

22.2 min

+0.7 min in Norfolk, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

479.5

1,372.9

+186% in St. Louis, MO

Property Crime

3,800.7

5,794.9

+52% in St. Louis, MO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

61.3°F

55.7°F

+5.6°F in Norfolk, VA

Annual Precipitation

44.8 in

40.9 in

+3.8 in in Norfolk, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in St. Louis, MO

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

17.6

13.7

+22% in Norfolk, VA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$23.66

$24.13

+2% in St. Louis, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in St. Louis, MO

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Norfolk, VA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in St. Louis, MO

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in St. Louis, MO

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in St. Louis, MO

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VA / MO)

5.3%

4.225%

+1.1 pp in VA

Income Tax (top rate)

5.75%

4.70%

+1.0 pp in VA

Norfolk vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Norfolk or St. Louis?: St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Norfolk, VA's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Norfolk than in St. Louis?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Norfolk versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Norfolk or St. Louis?: Norfolk is taxed under Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).