CostIndexUSA

Charlottesville, VA vs Norfolk, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

VA
Charlottesville
99.1
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
More AffordableVA
Norfolk
97.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent

Norfolk is slightly cheaper than Charlottesville — 1.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charlottesville, you would need $79,000 in Norfolk. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing6.7%
Charlottesville
107
Norfolk
99.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Charlottesville
96.8
Norfolk
96.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Charlottesville
103.5
Norfolk
103.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Charlottesville
93.7
Norfolk
93.7
Utilities+0.7%
Charlottesville
89
Norfolk
89.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Charlottesville to see what you'd need to earn in Norfolk to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Norfolk, VA
$79,000
$1,000 less needed in Norfolk

Formula: salary × (97.9 ÷ 99.1) = salary × 0.9879. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Charlottesville, VA

Median Home Price
$455,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,950
Housing Index
107
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

Norfolk, VA

Median Home Price
$360,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,800
Housing Index
99.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.7×

Charlottesville has 6.7% lower housing costs compared to Norfolk.

Income & Job Market

Charlottesville, VA

Median Household Income
$92,300
Per Capita Income
$52,600
Unemployment Rate
2.3%
Population
46,553
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyGovernmentTourism

Norfolk, VA

Median Household Income
$79,300
Per Capita Income
$45,200
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
245,782
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareShippingGovernmentRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Charlottesville, VA
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Norfolk, VA
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.