CostIndexUSA

Norfolk, VA vs Sarasota, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableVA
Norfolk
97.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent
FL
Sarasota
102.4
overall index
$1,925/mo rent

Norfolk is slightly cheaper than Sarasota — 4.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Norfolk, you would need $83,700 in Sarasota. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+28.3%
Norfolk
99.8
Sarasota
128
🛒 Groceries0.6%
Norfolk
96.8
Sarasota
96.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Norfolk
103.5
Sarasota
103.8
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Norfolk
93.7
Sarasota
93.9
Utilities1.6%
Norfolk
89.6
Sarasota
88.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Sarasota, FL
$83,700
$3,700 more needed in Sarasota

Formula: salary × (102.4 ÷ 97.9) = salary × 1.0460. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Norfolk, VA

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

Sarasota, FL

Median Home Price
$445,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,925
Housing Index
128
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.3×

Sarasota has 28.3% higher housing costs compared to Norfolk.

Income & Job Market

Norfolk, VA

Median Household Income
$79,300
Per Capita Income
$45,200
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
245,782
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareShippingGovernmentRetail

Sarasota, FL

Median Household Income
$78,900
Per Capita Income
$45,000
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
57,738
Top Industries
TourismHealthcareReal EstateFinanceArts

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Norfolk, VA
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Sarasota, FL
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.