City Comparison

Hampton vs Palmdale

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Hampton

Virginia
88
Below Average
$243,000
Median Home
$1,175/mo
Median Rent
$59,400
Median Income

Palmdale

California
130
Expensive
$471,000
Median Home
$1,725/mo
Median Rent
$81,800
Median Income

The Verdict

32.3%

Hampton is 32.3% less expensive than Palmdale overall. A household earning $75,000 in Hampton would need approximately $110,795 in Palmdale to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
102
Hampton
159
Palmdale
Groceries
94
Hampton
112
Palmdale
Utilities
102
Hampton
111
Palmdale
Transportation
93
Hampton
125
Palmdale
Healthcare
106
Hampton
109
Palmdale

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Hampton has the same purchasing power as $110,795 in Palmdale.

Conversely, $75,000 in Palmdale equals $50,769 in Hampton.

Living in Hampton vs Palmdale

Housing Costs

Hampton's housing index of 102 is lower Palmdale's 159, translating to median home prices of $243,000 vs $471,000. The $228,000 difference in home prices means roughly $14,820 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,175/mo in Hampton compared to $1,725/mo in Palmdale, a monthly difference of $550.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 94 in Hampton and 112 in Palmdale. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Hampton vs $532/month in Palmdale. Hampton offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1020/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Hampton and 111 in Palmdale. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Hampton vs $444 in Palmdale. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Hampton and 109 in Palmdale. 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 $59,400 in Hampton and $81,800 in Palmdale. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $67,500 and $62,923 respectively. Hampton residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,386/month to housing in Hampton vs $1,909/month in Palmdale. In Hampton, median rent of $1,175/mo fits within this budget. In Palmdale, median rent of $1,725/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 57 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hampton is 32.3% more affordable overall with an index of 88 vs 130.
A $75,000 salary in Hampton has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $110,795 in Palmdale, based on the cost of living difference.
Hampton's housing index is 102 with median homes at $243,000, while Palmdale's is 159 with median homes at $471,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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