Cost of Living Comparison Between Baltimore, MD and Norfolk, VA Cost of Living Comparison Between Baltimore, MD and Norfolk, VA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,460 in Baltimore, MD versus $2,361 in Norfolk, VA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,792 in Baltimore, MD versus $3,586 in Norfolk, VA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,124 in Baltimore, MD versus $4,812 in Norfolk, VA.

Living in Baltimore, MD is roughly 4% more expensive than in Norfolk, VA, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Baltimore, MD 79% above, Norfolk, VA 72% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.79 $18.79

$18.18 $18.18

3.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$91.7 $91.7

$90.4 $90.4

1.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.90 $10.90

$11.41 $11.41

-4.47%

Cappuccino

$5.16 $5.16

$5.90 $5.90

-12.54%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 $3.56

$2.77 $2.77

28.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.10 $2.10

27.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.79 $6.79

$5.92 $5.92

14.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.12 $8.12

$7.06 $7.06

15.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.00 $1.00

16.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.63 $3.63

$3.96 $3.96

-8.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$5.54 $5.54

-26.71%

Eggs

$5.09 $5.09

$4.73 $4.73

7.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.89 $12.89

$15.41 $15.41

-16.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.37 $12.37

$9.83 $9.83

25.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.63 $18.63

$18.13 $18.13

2.76%

Apples (1kg)

$5.76 $5.76

$4.68 $4.68

23.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.29 $1.29

13.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.86 $5.86

$5.00 $5.00

17.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.74 $4.74

$5.77 $5.77

-17.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.24 $2.24

32.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.50 $3.50

-20.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.72 $1.72

46.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.18 $2.18

5.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 $14.15

$8.95 $8.95

58.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.34 $15.34

$15.26 $15.26

0.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.84 $1.84

38.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.67 $2.67

40.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.06 $2.06

-2.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

$102 $102

-25.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 $1.82

$4.70 $4.70

-61.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.26 $1.26

6.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.97 $23.97

$17.68 $17.68

35.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.97 $0.97

5.15%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.5K $36.5K

$36.2K $36.2K

0.58%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.8K $25.8K

$25.2K $25.2K

2.73%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$211 $211

$208 $208

1.36%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$57.9 $57.9

14.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.7 $88.7

$66.0 $66.0

34.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.4 $51.4

$40.13 $40.13

28.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.67 $46.67

$17.20 $17.20

171.34%

Cinema Ticket

$15.26 $15.26

$11.82 $11.82

29.10%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,983 $1,983

$1,487 $1,487

33.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.8K $34.8K

$15.8K $15.8K

120.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.3 $53.3

$53.5 $53.5

-0.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.1 $63.1

$47.68 $47.68

32.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 $90.9

$94.6 $94.6

-3.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$118 $118

-4.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,685 $1,685

$1,236 $1,236

36.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,052 $1,052

$998 $998

5.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,224 $2,224

$2,319 $2,319

-4.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,917 $1,917

$1,734 $1,734

10.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,498 $2,498

$2,397 $2,397

4.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,297 $2,297

$2,273 $2,273

1.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,468 $4,468

$3,493 $3,493

27.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.26

6.2

0.97%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Baltimore, MD: August 30, 2026

Last update for Norfolk, VA: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,685 in Baltimore, MD and $1,236 in Norfolk, VA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baltimore, MD pays 28% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $92.0 in Baltimore, MD vs $90.0 in Norfolk, VA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $428 vs $412 per month, with Norfolk, VA cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Baltimore, MD vs Norfolk, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Norfolk, VA wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Baltimore, MD. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Norfolk, VA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 28% higher in Baltimore, MD, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,685 in Baltimore, MD versus $1,236 in Norfolk, VA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Baltimore, MD. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Norfolk, VA – a meal for two runs $90.0 versus $92.0 in Baltimore, MD. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Norfolk, VA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Norfolk, VA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Baltimore, MD. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.