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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Norfolk, VA costs roughly 4% less than in Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.18 $18.18

$18.79 $18.79

-3.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.4 $90.4

$91.7 $91.7

-1.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.41 $11.41

$10.90 $10.90

4.68%

Cappuccino

$5.90 $5.90

$5.16 $5.16

14.34%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$3.56 $3.56

-22.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.67 $2.67

-21.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 $5.92

$6.79 $6.79

-12.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.06 $7.06

$8.12 $8.12

-13.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.16 $1.16

-13.79%

White Bread (500g)

$3.96 $3.96

$3.63 $3.63

9.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.54 $5.54

$4.06 $4.06

36.45%

Eggs

$4.73 $4.73

$5.09 $5.09

-7.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.41 $15.41

$12.89 $12.89

19.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.83 $9.83

$12.37 $12.37

-20.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.13 $18.13

$18.63 $18.63

-2.68%

Apples (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$5.76 $5.76

-18.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.46 $1.46

-11.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

$5.86 $5.86

-14.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.77 $5.77

$4.74 $4.74

21.73%

Potato (1kg)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.97 $2.97

-24.58%

Onion (1kg)

$3.50 $3.50

$2.77 $2.77

26.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.52 $2.52

-31.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.30 $2.30

-5.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.95 $8.95

$14.15 $14.15

-36.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.26 $15.26

$15.34 $15.34

-0.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.54 $2.54

-27.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.75 $3.75

-28.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.01 $2.01

2.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$102 $102

$75.6 $75.6

34.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.70 $4.70

$1.82 $1.82

158.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.34 $1.34

-5.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.68 $17.68

$23.97 $23.97

-26.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.02 $1.02

-4.90%

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

$36.2K $36.2K

$36.5K $36.5K

-0.58%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$25.8K $25.8K

-2.66%

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

$208 $208

$211 $211

-1.34%

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

$57.9 $57.9

$66.4 $66.4

-12.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.0 $66.0

$88.7 $88.7

-25.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.13 $40.13

$51.4 $51.4

-21.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.20 $17.20

$46.67 $46.67

-63.15%

Cinema Ticket

$11.82 $11.82

$15.26 $15.26

-22.54%

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

$1,487 $1,487

$1,983 $1,983

-24.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K $15.8K

$34.8K $34.8K

-54.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 $53.5

$53.3 $53.3

0.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.68 $47.68

$63.1 $63.1

-24.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.6 $94.6

$90.9 $90.9

4.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$112 $112

5.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,236 $1,236

$1,685 $1,685

-26.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$998 $998

$1,052 $1,052

-5.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 $2,319

$2,224 $2,224

4.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,734 $1,734

$1,917 $1,917

-9.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,397 $2,397

$2,498 $2,498

-4.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,273 $2,273

$2,297 $2,297

-1.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,493 $3,493

$4,468 $4,468

-21.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.2

6.26

-0.96%

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

Last update for Norfolk, VA: August 30, 2026

Last update for Baltimore, MD: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,236 in Norfolk, VA and $1,685 in Baltimore, MD. 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: $90.0 in Norfolk, VA vs $92.0 in Baltimore, MD for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $412 vs $428 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

Norfolk, VA vs Baltimore, MD: 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.

On paper, salaries run 28% lower in Baltimore, MD. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,236 in Norfolk, VA versus $1,685 in Baltimore, MD. 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.