City Comparison

Norfolk vs Peoria

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Norfolk

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

Peoria

Illinois
76
Very Affordable
$164,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$58,700
Median Income

The Verdict

30.3%

Peoria is 30.3% less expensive than Norfolk overall. A household earning $75,000 in Norfolk would need approximately $57,576 in Peoria to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
95
Norfolk
42
Peoria
Groceries
99
Norfolk
97
Peoria
Utilities
97
Norfolk
103
Peoria
Transportation
100
Norfolk
108
Peoria
Healthcare
99
Norfolk
107
Peoria

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Norfolk has the same purchasing power as $57,576 in Peoria.

Conversely, $75,000 in Peoria equals $97,697 in Norfolk.

Living in Norfolk vs Peoria

Housing Costs

Norfolk's housing index of 95 is higher Peoria's 42, translating to median home prices of $250,000 vs $164,000. The $86,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,592 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,300/mo in Norfolk compared to $1,000/mo in Peoria, a monthly difference of $300.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Norfolk and 97 in Peoria. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Norfolk vs $461/month in Peoria. 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 97 in Norfolk and 103 in Peoria. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Norfolk vs $412 in Peoria. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 99 in Norfolk and 107 in Peoria. 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 $51,938 in Norfolk and $58,700 in Peoria. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $52,463 and $77,237 respectively. Peoria residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,212/month to housing in Norfolk vs $1,370/month in Peoria. In Norfolk, median rent of $1,300/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Peoria, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 53 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Peoria is 30.3% more affordable overall with an index of 76 vs 99.
A $75,000 salary in Norfolk has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $57,576 in Peoria, based on the cost of living difference.
Norfolk's housing index is 95 with median homes at $250,000, while Peoria's is 42 with median homes at $164,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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