Suffolk, VA vs Hoover, AL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Hoover, AL has a modeled overall cost index 13.6% lower than Suffolk, VA.

Suffolk, VA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,000 / month
Hoover, AL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,560 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Suffolk, VA and Hoover, AL using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Suffolk, VA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,012/month in Hoover, AL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $137,850 in Hoover, AL

Regional cost estimates: Suffolk, VA uses Chesapeake, VA. Hoover, AL uses Birmingham, AL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 13.6%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,012

Savings

Annual Impact

$12.1K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Suffolk, VA

Population:101K

Cost Index:

99.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$439K

Hoover, AL

Population:92K

Cost Index:

85.5

100 = national average

Typical Home:$463K

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Suffolk, VA

The Old Dominion State

101K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Virginia, this city has a population of 101K residents.

Hoover, AL

The Heart of Dixie

92K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Alabama, this city has a population of 92K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Suffolk, VA vs Hoover, AL

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Suffolk, VA	Hoover, AL	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,360/mo	$1,717/mo	↓ $643less	27.2%
Other	$1,706/mo	$1,561/mo	↓ $145less	8.5%
Healthcare	$632/mo	$515/mo	↓ $117less	18.5%
Transportation	$1,270/mo	$1,193/mo	↓ $77.61less	6.1%
All Utilities	$573/mo	$541/mo	↓ $31.97less	5.6%
Groceries	$959/mo	$960/mo	↑ $1.40more	0.1%

Housing

↓ 27.2%

Suffolk, VA

$2,360

Hoover, AL

$1,717

Difference

$643

less

Other

↓ 8.5%

Suffolk, VA

$1,706

Hoover, AL

$1,561

Difference

$145

less

Healthcare

↓ 18.5%

Suffolk, VA

$632

Hoover, AL

$515

Difference

$117

less

Transportation

↓ 6.1%

Suffolk, VA

$1,270

Hoover, AL

$1,193

Difference

$77.61

less

All Utilities

↓ 5.6%

Suffolk, VA

$573

Hoover, AL

$541

Difference

$31.97

less

Groceries

↑ 0.1%

Suffolk, VA

$959

Hoover, AL

$960

Difference

$1.40

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,740

To$1,260

↓ $480

1 Bed

From$1,750

To$1,420

↓ $330

2 Bed

From$2,000

To$1,560

↓ $440

3 Bed

From$2,790

To$1,950

↓ $840

Suffolk, VAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,090–$1,920/mo

Hoover, ALZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,420–$1,420/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Suffolk, VA

$6,488

Monthly in Hoover, AL

$1,012

Difference

Home Values

Suffolk

Hoover

$439K

Median Value

$463K

↑ +1.3%

YoY Change

↑ +1%

↑ +34%

5-Year Change

↑ +28.7%

$328K - $531K

Price Range

$463K

Homes in Hoover are 6% more expensive than Suffolk

Calculate payment - Suffolk Calculate payment - Hoover

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $908

Per year

Monthly Difference

$75.63

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.6%

Rate difference

Suffolk, VA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Virginia State Tax

Effective: 5.6%

$8.4K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.3%

$45.4K

Take-Home Pay

$8,718/month

$104.6K

Hoover, AL

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Alabama State Tax

Effective: 5.0%

$7.5K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.6%

$44.5K

Take-Home Pay

$8,794/month

$105.5K

Additional Tax Information

Suffolk, VA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.7%

Property Tax:0.8%

Hoover, AL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.1%

Property Tax:0.4%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Suffolk

Hoover

36 Good

Air Quality

57 Moderate

80.3%

Good Air Days

26%

81 Low

Climate Risk

98 High

None

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+2.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.5°F

21 days

Heat Days >95°F

41 days

▲+2.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.5°F

21 days

Heat Days >95°F

41 days

Before moving from Suffolk, VA to Hoover, AL

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Hoover, AL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Suffolk, VA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Suffolk to Hoover moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Hoover, AL by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Suffolk, VA vs Hoover, AL

How do the cost estimates for Suffolk, VA and Hoover, AL compare?

Hoover, AL has a modeled overall cost index 13.6% lower than Suffolk, VA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Suffolk, VA, the model estimates $137,850 in Hoover, AL. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Suffolk, VA and Hoover, AL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,000/month in Suffolk, VA and $1,560/month in Hoover, AL. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Virginia and Alabama on TaxTakeHome.com