CostIndexUSA

Gainesville, FL vs Norfolk, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableFL
Gainesville
96.7
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
VA
Norfolk
97.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent

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

To match an $80,000 salary in Gainesville, you would need $81,000 in Norfolk. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+7.3%
Gainesville
93
Norfolk
99.8
🛒 Groceries+0.6%
Gainesville
96.2
Norfolk
96.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Gainesville
103.8
Norfolk
103.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Gainesville
93.9
Norfolk
93.7
Utilities+1.6%
Gainesville
88.2
Norfolk
89.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Norfolk, VA
$81,000
$1,000 more needed in Norfolk

Formula: salary × (97.9 ÷ 96.7) = salary × 1.0124. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Gainesville, FL

Median Home Price
$294,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
93
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Norfolk, VA

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

Norfolk has 7.3% higher housing costs compared to Gainesville.

Income & Job Market

Gainesville, FL

Median Household Income
$59,300
Per Capita Income
$33,800
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
140,003
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyGovernmentResearch

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).

Gainesville, FL
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.