City Comparison

Kenosha vs Norfolk

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Kenosha

Wisconsin
91
Below Average
$275,000
Median Home
$1,250/mo
Median Rent
$68,900
Median Income

Norfolk

Virginia
99
Average
$250,000
Median Home
$1,300/mo
Median Rent
$51,938
Median Income

The Verdict

8.1%

Kenosha is 8.1% less expensive than Norfolk overall. A household earning $75,000 in Kenosha would need approximately $81,593 in Norfolk to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
82
Kenosha
95
Norfolk
Groceries
99
Kenosha
99
Norfolk
Utilities
95
Kenosha
97
Norfolk
Transportation
103
Kenosha
100
Norfolk
Healthcare
96
Kenosha
99
Norfolk

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Kenosha has the same purchasing power as $81,593 in Norfolk.

Conversely, $75,000 in Norfolk equals $68,939 in Kenosha.

Living in Kenosha vs Norfolk

Housing Costs

Kenosha's housing index of 82 is lower Norfolk's 95, translating to median home prices of $275,000 vs $250,000. The $25,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,620 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,250/mo in Kenosha compared to $1,300/mo in Norfolk, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Kenosha and 99 in Norfolk. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Kenosha vs $470/month in Norfolk. 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 95 in Kenosha and 97 in Norfolk. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Kenosha vs $388 in Norfolk. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Kenosha and 99 in Norfolk. 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 $68,900 in Kenosha and $51,938 in Norfolk. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $75,714 and $52,463 respectively. Kenosha residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,608/month to housing in Kenosha vs $1,212/month in Norfolk. In Kenosha, median rent of $1,250/mo fits within this budget. In Norfolk, median rent of $1,300/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 13 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Kenosha is 8.1% more affordable overall with an index of 91 vs 99.
A $75,000 salary in Kenosha has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $81,593 in Norfolk, based on the cost of living difference.
Kenosha's housing index is 82 with median homes at $275,000, while Norfolk's is 95 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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