City Comparison

Elk Grove vs Newport News

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Elk Grove

California
144
Expensive
$608,000
Median Home
$1,975/mo
Median Rent
$123,200
Median Income

Newport News

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

The Verdict

56.5%

Newport News is 56.5% less expensive than Elk Grove overall. A household earning $75,000 in Elk Grove would need approximately $47,917 in Newport News to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
221
Elk Grove
75
Newport News
Groceries
106
Elk Grove
99
Newport News
Utilities
115
Elk Grove
104
Newport News
Transportation
118
Elk Grove
96
Newport News
Healthcare
103
Elk Grove
111
Newport News

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Elk Grove has the same purchasing power as $47,917 in Newport News.

Conversely, $75,000 in Newport News equals $117,391 in Elk Grove.

Living in Elk Grove vs Newport News

Housing Costs

Elk Grove's housing index of 221 is higher Newport News's 75, translating to median home prices of $608,000 vs $261,000. The $347,000 difference in home prices means roughly $22,560 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,975/mo in Elk Grove compared to $1,175/mo in Newport News, a monthly difference of $800.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 106 in Elk Grove and 99 in Newport News. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $504/month in Elk Grove vs $470/month in Newport News. Newport News offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $408/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 115 in Elk Grove and 104 in Newport News. Monthly utility bills average approximately $460 in Elk Grove vs $416 in Newport News. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Elk Grove and 111 in Newport News. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $123,200 in Elk Grove and $69,600 in Newport News. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $85,556 and $75,652 respectively. Elk Grove residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,875/month to housing in Elk Grove vs $1,624/month in Newport News. In Elk Grove, median rent of $1,975/mo fits within this budget. 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 146 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Newport News is 56.5% more affordable overall with an index of 92 vs 144.
A $75,000 salary in Elk Grove has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $47,917 in Newport News, based on the cost of living difference.
Elk Grove's housing index is 221 with median homes at $608,000, while Newport News's is 75 with median homes at $261,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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