Is it cheaper to live in Norfolk or Salem?

Salem, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Norfolk, VA's $1,230, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Norfolk versus $40,000 in Salem.

Which has lower taxes, Norfolk or Salem?

Norfolk is taxed under Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Norfolk vs Salem Cost of Living 2026

Norfolk

Virginia

$1,230/mo est.

Salem

Oregon

$1,170/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 $1,170 in Salem, OR. Overall, Salem, OR is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Norfolk, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,017 in Norfolk, VA and $71,900 in Salem, OR — about 11% higher in Salem, OR. Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Norfolk, VA

Salem, OR

Rent

Studio

$1,102

$1,075

+2% in Norfolk, VA

1 Bedroom

$1,032

$989

+4% in Norfolk, VA

2 Bedroom

$1,214

$1,337

+10% in Salem, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,602

$1,778

+11% in Salem, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$271,900

$382,400

+41% in Salem, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$64,017

$71,900

+12% in Salem, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,430

$55,310

+12% in Salem, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

32.4 yr

35.7 yr

+3.3 yr in Salem, OR

Homeownership

45.7%

55.7%

+10.0 pp in Salem, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.7%

31.4%

+1.3 pp in Norfolk, VA

Avg Commute

22.9 min

22.4 min

+0.5 min in Norfolk, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

479.5

540.6

+13% in Salem, OR

Property Crime

3,800.7

2,878.6

+24% 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

61.3°F

53.0°F

+8.3°F in Norfolk, VA

Annual Precipitation

44.8 in

39.7 in

+5.1 in in Norfolk, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$5.09/gal

+32% in Salem, OR

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

17.6

16.3

+8% in Norfolk, VA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$23.66

$20.59

+13% in Norfolk, VA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Salem, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Salem, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Norfolk, VA

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Salem, OR

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Salem, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Salem, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VA / OR)

5.3%

None

+5.3 pp in VA

Income Tax (top rate)

5.75%

9.90%

+4.2 pp in OR

Norfolk vs Salem — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Norfolk or Salem?: Salem, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Norfolk, VA's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Norfolk than in Salem?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Norfolk versus $40,000 in Salem.
Which has lower taxes, Norfolk or Salem?: Norfolk is taxed under Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).