Head to head
Norfolk, VA vs Richmond, VA
Norfolk is cheaper — estimated essentials for a single person run about $9/mo less, and living comfortably there takes roughly $0 less in annual salary (taxes included).
It flips for a family. For two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child, Richmond is the cheaper of the two — rent scales to household size using each city's own bedroom spread, and childcare varies even more sharply between cities than rent does.
| Metric | Norfolk57 | Richmond55 |
|---|---|---|
| Est. monthly cost (single) | $4,188 | $4,197 |
| Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare) | $9,878 | $9,805 |
| Salary for comfort | $79,000/yr | $79,000/yr |
| Typical rent | $1,713 | $1,655 |
| Median home value | $271,900 | $328,100 |
| Median household income | $64,017 | $62,671 |
| Unemployment | 4.4% | 4.2% |
| Housing score | 44 | 33 |
| Jobs score | 37 | 42 |
| Safety score | 46 | 36 |
| Climate score | 100 | 100 |
| Amenities score | 24 | 27 |
| Population | 235K | 227.6K |
| Summer high / winter low | 88° / 34° | 90° / 28° |
Fit scores use the reference profile (single, $6,700/mo gross, default weights). Green marks the better value per row.
Norfolk, VA
Richmond, VA