| Index | Newport News | Virginia | National |
| Cost of living | 105 | 111 | 100 |
| Groceries | 103 | 103 | 100 |
| Health care | 104 | 103 | 100 |
| Housing | 107 | 129 | 100 |
| Transportation | 107 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 108 | 104 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 105 | 103 | 100 |
| Household Items | 103 | 102 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 103 | 109 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Newport News? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Newport News stands at 105, making it 5% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
The cost of living in Newport News is about average when compared to all other cities across the nation. You can expect that everyday items like food, household expenses and utility bills will be no more expensive than any other average city. Residents can anticipate living expenses that remain in line with the national average, ensuring a manageable financial burden, making it an attractive choice for those seeking affordability without the constraints of higher everyday expenditures.
The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 15 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Newport News. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 53% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 47% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.
Is Newport News affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Newport News, for instance, where the median home price falls 4.5% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 12.7% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Newport News flaunting a median household income of $79,966, 1.7% lower than the national norm.
Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.
Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Newport News, the housing index comes in at 7% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.
The Newport News cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
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| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $110,454 | $9,205 | $2,577 | $3,314 |
| Renters | $60,574 | $5,048 | $1,413 | $1,817 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Virginia | 5.3% | 6% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Virginia | 2% | 5.75% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Benns Church, VA | 663 | 105 | 4.6% |
| Hampton, VA | 138,888 | 105 | 5.0% |
| Gloucester Point, VA | 10,715 | 110 | 9.9% |
| Rushmere, VA | 1,024 | 112 | 11.6% |
| Smithfield, VA | 8,784 | 118 | 17.7% |
| Newport News, VA | 184,134 | 105 | 5.3% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Ontario, CA | 185,250 | 143 | 43.4% |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 185,280 | 163 | 62.9% |
| Providence, RI | 185,554 | 109 | 9.0% |
| Sioux Falls, SD | 185,812 | 99 | 1.0% |
| Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 182,156 | 159 | 59.3% |
| Newport News, VA | 184,134 | 105 | 5.3% |
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