Living Cost Compare
Norfolk

Virginia

$1,230/mo est.

vs
San Antonio

Texas

$1,290/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 $1,290 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, Norfolk, VA is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Antonio, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,017 in Norfolk, VA and $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — about 2% higher in Norfolk, VA. Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Norfolk, VA
San Antonio, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,102
$1,052
+5% in Norfolk, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,032
$1,084
+5% in San Antonio, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,214
$1,327
+9% in San Antonio, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,602
$1,545
+4% in Norfolk, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$271,900
$219,700
+19% in Norfolk, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$64,017
$62,917
+2% in Norfolk, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,430
$47,010
+5% in Norfolk, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.4 yr
34.6 yr
+2.2 yr in San Antonio, TX
Homeownership
45.7%
52.4%
+6.7 pp in San Antonio, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.7%
28.7%
+4.0 pp in Norfolk, VA
Avg Commute
22.9 min
24.6 min
+1.7 min in San Antonio, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
479.5
605.7
+26% in San Antonio, TX
Property Crime
3,800.7
4,665.7
+23% in San Antonio, TX

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
68.5°F
+7.2°F in San Antonio, TX
Annual Precipitation
44.8 in
34.9 in
+9.9 in in Norfolk, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Norfolk, VA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.30

Adult base one-way fare — — vs VIA Metropolitan Transit (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.6
16.4
+7% in Norfolk, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.66
$30.48
+29% in San Antonio, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VA / TX)
5.3%
6.25%
+1.0 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
5.75%
None
+5.8 pp in VA

Norfolk vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Norfolk or San Antonio?
Norfolk, VA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below San Antonio, TX's $1,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Norfolk than in San Antonio?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Norfolk versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Norfolk or San Antonio?
Norfolk is taxed under Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax); San Antonio under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).