Living Cost Compare
Norfolk

Virginia

$1,230/mo est.

vs
Salt Lake City

Utah

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Salt Lake City, UT. Overall, Norfolk, VA is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Salt Lake City, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,017 in Norfolk, VA and $74,925 in Salt Lake City, UT — about 15% higher in Salt Lake City, UT. Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Norfolk, VA
Salt Lake City, UT

Rent

Studio
$1,102
$997
+10% in Norfolk, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,032
$1,166
+13% in Salt Lake City, UT
2 Bedroom
$1,214
$1,461
+20% in Salt Lake City, UT
3 Bedroom
$1,602
$1,993
+24% in Salt Lake City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$271,900
$495,700
+82% in Salt Lake City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$64,017
$74,925
+17% in Salt Lake City, UT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,430
$55,240
+12% in Salt Lake City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.4 yr
33.0 yr
+0.6 yr in Salt Lake City, UT
Homeownership
45.7%
46.8%
+1.1 pp in Salt Lake City, UT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.7%
50.9%
+18.2 pp in Salt Lake City, UT
Avg Commute
22.9 min
19.6 min
+3.3 min in Norfolk, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
479.5
878.8
+83% in Salt Lake City, UT
Property Crime
3,800.7
5,257.3
+38% in Salt Lake City, UT

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
52.8°F
+8.5°F in Norfolk, VA
Annual Precipitation
44.8 in
16.1 in
+28.7 in in Norfolk, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$4.29/gal
+11% in Salt Lake City, UT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.6
13.0
+26% in Norfolk, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.66
$10.26
+57% in Norfolk, VA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Salt Lake City, UT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Salt Lake City, UT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Norfolk, VA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Salt Lake City, UT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Salt Lake City, UT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Salt Lake City, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VA / UT)
5.3%
6.1%
+0.8 pp in UT
Income Tax (top rate)
5.75%
4.50%
+1.3 pp in VA

Norfolk vs Salt Lake City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Norfolk or Salt Lake City?
Norfolk, VA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Salt Lake City, UT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Norfolk than in Salt Lake City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Norfolk versus $47,000 in Salt Lake City.
Which has lower taxes, Norfolk or Salt Lake City?
Norfolk is taxed under Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax); Salt Lake City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).