Arlington, VA vs. Norfolk, VA
Median rent is $2,275 a month in Arlington, VA and $1,246 in Norfolk, VA. Household income is $140,160 against $64,017. Both cities are read from the same ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates and the same BEA Regional Price Parities 2023, so the two columns below are directly comparable.
A green or red badge means the second city is higher or lower, not better or worse: a lower rent is good for a tenant, a lower household income is not. For the price level and
the share of income the raw values are shown, because a percentage difference between two
percentages is easy to misread.
What the gap means
Occupation wages in both metros
May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Metropolitan areas may differ from city boundaries.
| Occupation | Arlington, VA median | Norfolk, VA median | vs. |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $156,460 | $100,340 | -35.9% |
| Retail Salespersons | $36,610 | $30,820 | -15.8% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,600 | $28,780 | -16.8% |
| Software Developers | $154,930 | $129,090 | -16.7% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $37,840 | $33,580 | -11.3% |
| Management Analysts | $126,830 | $101,380 | -20.1% |
| Registered Nurses | $102,710 | $89,450 | -12.9% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $46,040 | $39,020 | -15.2% |
Metropolitan areas and cover every industry together, so the two columns may describe wider areas than the city limits used for rent and income.
Arlington, VA vs Norfolk, VA: frequently asked questions
Is Norfolk, VA more expensive than Arlington, VA?
Overall prices are almost identical: a regional price level of 100.7 in Norfolk, VA against 100.7 in Arlington, VA.
How much do I need to earn in Norfolk, VA to keep a $100,000 lifestyle from Arlington, VA?
About $100,000. Adjusting $100,000 by the BEA regional price levels of the two areas (100.7 in Arlington, VA, 100.7 in Norfolk, VA) gives the salary with the same purchasing power. Taxes and personal spending habits are not included.
Is rent cheaper in Arlington, VA or Norfolk, VA?
The median gross rent is $2,275 a month in Arlington, VA and $1,246 in Norfolk, VA, a difference of $1,029 a month or $12,348 a year.
Where are household incomes higher, Arlington, VA or Norfolk, VA?
The median household income is $140,160 in Arlington, VA and $64,017 in Norfolk, VA. Rent takes 19.5% of the median income in Arlington, VA and 23.4% in Norfolk, VA.
What salary do I need to afford the median rent in Norfolk, VA?
About $49,800 a year, the gross income that keeps the median rent of $1,246 a month at 30% of income. The same rule gives $91,000 in Arlington, VA.
More comparisons with Arlington, VA
More comparisons with Norfolk, VA
Definitions used on this page
- Salary needed for the median rent
- Twelve months of median gross rent divided by 0.30: the income that keeps the median rent at 30% of gross pay.
- Price level
- BEA regional price parity for the metro area where one is published, otherwise for the state. The national average is 100.
- Same standard of living
- A salary in Arlington, VA converted into Norfolk, VA at the ratio of the two price levels. It adjusts for prices only, not for taxes or for what either city offers.
- Buying power
- One hundred divided by the price level: what a dollar buys locally relative to the national average.
Sources
- Census Bureau — ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates
- Census Bureau — ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates
- BEA — BEA Regional Price Parities 2023
Margins of error are published for every Census figure. Read the methodology before reading a small gap between two cities as a real difference.
Full detail for each city: Arlington, VA · Norfolk, VA