City Comparison

Cleveland vs Newport News

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cleveland

Ohio
87
Below Average
$100,000
Median Home
$900/mo
Median Rent
$32,053
Median Income

Newport News

Virginia
92
Below Average
$261,000
Median Home
$1,175/mo
Median Rent
$69,600
Median Income

The Verdict

5.4%

Living in Cleveland costs 5.4% less than Newport News. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Cleveland, you would need $79,310 in Newport News.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
59
Cleveland
75
Newport News
Groceries
99
Cleveland
99
Newport News
Utilities
96
Cleveland
104
Newport News
Transportation
101
Cleveland
96
Newport News
Healthcare
96
Cleveland
111
Newport News

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cleveland has the same purchasing power as $79,310 in Newport News.

Conversely, $75,000 in Newport News equals $70,924 in Cleveland.

Living in Cleveland vs Newport News

Housing Costs

Cleveland's housing index of 59 is lower Newport News's 75, translating to median home prices of $100,000 vs $261,000. The $161,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,464 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Cleveland compared to $1,175/mo in Newport News, a monthly difference of $275.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Cleveland and 99 in Newport News. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Cleveland vs $470/month in Newport News. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in Cleveland and 104 in Newport News. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Cleveland vs $416 in Newport News. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Cleveland and 111 in Newport News. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 15-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $32,053 in Cleveland and $69,600 in Newport News. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $36,843 and $75,652 respectively. Newport News residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $748/month to housing in Cleveland vs $1,624/month in Newport News. In Cleveland, median rent of $900/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Newport News, median rent of $1,175/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 16 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cleveland is 5.4% more affordable overall with an index of 87 vs 92.
A $75,000 salary in Cleveland has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $79,310 in Newport News, based on the cost of living difference.
Cleveland's housing index is 59 with median homes at $100,000, while Newport News's is 75 with median homes at $261,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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