CostIndexUSA

Lancaster, PA vs Norfolk, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostPA
Lancaster
98.3
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
VA
Norfolk
97.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent

Lancaster and Norfolk have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+6.4%
Lancaster
93.8
Norfolk
99.8
🛒 Groceries3.9%
Lancaster
100.7
Norfolk
96.8
🚗 Transportation+0.9%
Lancaster
102.6
Norfolk
103.5
🏥 Healthcare+1.0%
Lancaster
92.8
Norfolk
93.7
Utilities16.5%
Lancaster
107.3
Norfolk
89.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Norfolk, VA
$79,700
$300 less needed in Norfolk

Formula: salary × (97.9 ÷ 98.3) = salary × 0.9959. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lancaster, PA

Median Home Price
$372,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
93.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.7×

Norfolk, VA

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

Norfolk has 6.4% higher housing costs compared to Lancaster.

Income & Job Market

Lancaster, PA

Median Household Income
$80,100
Per Capita Income
$45,700
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
Population
59,322
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailTourismAgriculture

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).

Lancaster, PA
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.