Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Fairfax County, VA would need to be about $33,550 in Newport News city, VA, or $16,450 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Fairfax County, VA vs Newport News city, VA: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Newport News city, VA is cheaper than Fairfax County, VA.
Moving to Newport News city, VA is estimated to save $25,923 per year.
Cheaper County
Newport News city, VASave about $25,923 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Fairfax County, VA is about $33,550 in Newport News city, VA.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $123 per year. Housing saves $11,042 per year.
Housing: $11,042 lower in Newport News city, VA
Taxes: $8,896 lower in Newport News city, VA
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $123 higher in Newport News city, VA
Food: $980 lower in Newport News city, VA
Transport: $1,395 lower in Newport News city, VA
Fairfax County, VA→Newport News city, VA
Equivalent salary in Newport News city, VA
$33,550
-32.9% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Fairfax County, VA: $178,683
Median Income in Newport News city, VA: $81,141
Living Index in Fairfax County, VA 44.09%
Living Index in Newport News city, VA 65.15%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Fairfax County, VA to Newport News city, VA.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Cost of Living Breakdown by Category
Summary
Moving from Fairfax County, VA to Newport News city, VA is estimated to save $25,923 per year. A $50,000 salary in Fairfax County, VA would have similar purchasing power to about $33,550 in Newport News city, VA. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -32.9% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $11,042 per year lower (-40.91%); Taxes is $8,896 per year lower (-44.91%).
Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.
Why this comparison matters
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Fairfax County, VA and Newport News city, VA, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 44.1% of median family income in Fairfax County, VA and 65.1% in Newport News city, VA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $11,042 per year lower in Newport News city, VA than in Fairfax County, VA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Newport News city, VA changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $980 per year lower in Newport News city, VA than in Fairfax County, VA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Newport News city, VA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,395 per year lower in Newport News city, VA than in Fairfax County, VA. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Newport News city, VA.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $123 per year higher in Newport News city, VA than in Fairfax County, VA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Newport News city, VA changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $3,732 per year lower in Newport News city, VA than in Fairfax County, VA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Newport News city, VA help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Fairfax County, VA and Newport News city, VA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Newport News city, VA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $8,896 per year lower in Newport News city, VA than in Fairfax County, VA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Newport News city, VA matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
What changed the most?
The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Newport News city, VA.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Newport News city, VA
Annual Increase:
$123 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Newport News city, VA.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Newport News city, VA
Annual Savings:
$11,042 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Newport News city, VA.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -41% lower | |
| Food | -19% lower | |
| Transport | -11% lower | |
| Healthcare | 3% higher | |
| Other Costs | -37% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -45% lower |
In Newport News city, VA, modeled annual costs are $52,863 compared with $78,786 in Fairfax County, VA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Newport News city, VA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Newport News city, VA and Fairfax County, VA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
