Living Cost Compare
Norman

Oklahoma

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,550/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Norman, OK versus $1,550 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Norman, OK is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,060 in Norman, OK and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 28% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Norman, OK
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$820
$1,496
+82% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$863
$1,357
+57% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,056
$1,559
+48% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,377
$1,857
+35% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$239,300
$366,300
+53% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$65,060
$90,685
+39% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,230
$49,430
+5% in Virginia Beach, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.6 yr
37.4 yr
+5.8 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
52.7%
64.9%
+12.2 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.2%
40.4%
+5.8 pp in Norman, OK
Avg Commute
22.2 min
23.2 min
+1.0 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
268.6
96.9
+64% in Norman, OK
Property Crime
2,294.1
1,664.9
+27% in Norman, OK

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
61.5°F
59.9°F
+1.6°F in Norman, OK
Annual Precipitation
36.5 in
44.3 in
+7.8 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Norman, OK

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.4
17.6
+32% in Virginia Beach, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.15
$23.66
+13% in Norman, OK

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 (OK / VA)
4.5%
5.3%
+0.8 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
4.50%
5.75%
+1.3 pp in VA

Norman vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Norman or Virginia Beach?
Norman, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Norman than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Norman versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Norman or Virginia Beach?
Norman is taxed under Oklahoma's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).