Living Cost Compare
Norfolk

Virginia

$1,230/mo est.

vs
Tampa

Florida

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Norfolk, VA is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,017 in Norfolk, VA and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 10% higher in Tampa, FL. Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Norfolk, VA
Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio
$1,102
$1,242
+13% in Tampa, FL
1 Bedroom
$1,032
$1,324
+28% in Tampa, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,214
$1,673
+38% in Tampa, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,602
$1,729
+8% in Tampa, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$271,900
$375,300
+38% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income
$64,017
$71,302
+11% in Tampa, FL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,430
$48,940
+1% in Norfolk, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.4 yr
35.6 yr
+3.2 yr in Tampa, FL
Homeownership
45.7%
50.2%
+4.5 pp in Tampa, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.7%
44.6%
+11.9 pp in Tampa, FL
Avg Commute
22.9 min
24.7 min
+1.8 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
479.5
443.2
+8% in Norfolk, VA
Property Crime
3,800.7
1,473.2
+61% 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
73.4°F
+12.1°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
44.8 in
46.3 in
+1.5 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.77/gal
+2% in Norfolk, VA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs HART (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.6
15.2
+14% in Norfolk, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.66
$23.62
+0% in Norfolk, VA

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 / FL)
5.3%
6%
+0.7 pp in FL
Income Tax (top rate)
5.75%
None
+5.8 pp in VA

Norfolk vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Norfolk or Tampa?
Norfolk, VA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Norfolk than in Tampa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Norfolk versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Norfolk or Tampa?
Norfolk is taxed under Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% 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).