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: $2,950 in Norfolk, VA versus $2,653 in Baltimore, MD.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,097 in Norfolk, VA versus $4,041 in Baltimore, MD.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,243 in Norfolk, VA versus $5,429 in Baltimore, MD.

Living in Norfolk, VA is roughly 11% more expensive than Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Norfolk, VA 120% above, Baltimore, MD 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$19.62 $19.62

1.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.7 $75.7

$80.7 $80.7

-6.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.14 $12.14

$10.14 $10.14

19.72%

Cappuccino

$5.45 $5.45

$4.94 $4.94

10.32%

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

$2.27 $2.27

$2.33 $2.33

-2.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.21 $2.21

-5.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.15 $6.15

$5.92 $5.92

3.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.94 $6.94

$7.63 $7.63

-9.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.05 $1.05

-19.05%

White Bread (500g)

$4.22 $4.22

$3.78 $3.78

11.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.53 $5.53

$4.61 $4.61

19.96%

Eggs

$4.57 $4.57

$4.45 $4.45

2.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.76 $13.76

$13.28 $13.28

3.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.33 $11.33

$9.77 $9.77

15.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.45 $16.45

$16.19 $16.19

1.61%

Apples (1kg)

$4.63 $4.63

$6.83 $6.83

-32.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.58 $1.58

-10.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$7.06 $7.06

-18.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.24 $6.24

$5.27 $5.27

18.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.70 $2.70

-17.41%

Onion (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$3.03 $3.03

6.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.41 $2.41

-29.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.77 $2.77

-23.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.05 $9.05

$12.70 $12.70

-28.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$15.05 $15.05

-1.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.36 $2.36

-22.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 $2.97

$4.07 $4.07

-27.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.53 $2.53

-18.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$103 $103

$75.8 $75.8

35.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.78 $4.78

$1.78 $1.78

168.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.35 $1.35

-1.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.11 $15.11

$23.93 $23.93

-36.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.90 $0.90

-10.00%

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

$29.5K $29.5K

$25.6K $25.6K

15.57%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$26.2K $26.2K

2.90%

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

$185 $185

$174 $174

6.20%

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

$48.92 $48.92

$57.9 $57.9

-15.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.0 $71.0

$80.1 $80.1

-11.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.69 $39.69

$56.7 $56.7

-29.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.34 $17.34

$30.13 $30.13

-42.45%

Cinema Ticket

$11.96 $11.96

$15.10 $15.10

-20.79%

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

$1,473 $1,473

$1,299 $1,299

13.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.0K $16.0K

$34.0K $34.0K

-52.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 $59.8

$50.9 $50.9

17.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.32 $46.32

$73.6 $73.6

-37.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.7 $99.7

$84.9 $84.9

17.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$111 $111

25.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,874 $1,874

$1,882 $1,882

-0.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,616 $1,616

$1,328 $1,328

21.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,495 $2,495

$3,284 $3,284

-24.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,309 $2,309

$2,274 $2,274

1.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,435 $2,435

$2,450 $2,450

-0.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,271 $2,271

$2,346 $2,346

-3.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,500 $3,500

$4,227 $4,227

-17.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

6.59

-0.91%

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

Last update for Norfolk, VA: May 31, 2026

Last update for Baltimore, MD: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,874 in Norfolk, VA and $1,882 in Baltimore, MD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baltimore, MD pays 21% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $76.0 in Norfolk, VA vs $81.0 in Baltimore, MD for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $414 vs $427 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

Baltimore, MD wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Norfolk, VA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baltimore, MD the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Baltimore, MD earns 21% less. 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: $1,874 in Norfolk, VA versus $1,882 in Baltimore, MD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Norfolk, VA pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Baltimore, MD – a meal for two runs $81.0 versus $76.0 in Norfolk, VA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Baltimore, MD 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 Baltimore, MD gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Norfolk, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.