CostIndexUSA

Boise, ID vs Norfolk, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostID
Boise
98.4
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
VA
Norfolk
97.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent

Boise and Norfolk have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing5.5%
Boise
105.6
Norfolk
99.8
🛒 Groceries+0.6%
Boise
96.2
Norfolk
96.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Boise
103.9
Norfolk
103.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Boise
94
Norfolk
93.7
Utilities+26.7%
Boise
70.7
Norfolk
89.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Norfolk, VA
$79,600
$400 less needed in Norfolk

Formula: salary × (97.9 ÷ 98.4) = salary × 0.9949. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Boise, ID

Median Home Price
$479,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,750
Housing Index
105.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.8×

Norfolk, VA

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

Boise has 5.5% lower housing costs compared to Norfolk.

Income & Job Market

Boise, ID

Median Household Income
$82,500
Per Capita Income
$47,000
Unemployment Rate
3.3%
Population
235,984
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareManufacturingFinanceAgriculture

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).

Boise, ID
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.