Systems and methods for preferentially assigning virtual machines (VMs) on a particular NUMA node with network queues on the same NUMA node are described. A load balancer process on a host assigns multiple VMs to network queues. The assignment of the VMs to a network queues is performed with a bias toward assigning VMs using a particular NUMA node to network queues on the same NUMA node. A scheduler on the host assigns VMs to NUMA nodes. The scheduler is biased toward assigning VMs to the same NUMA node as the PNIC and/or the same NUMA node as a network queue assigned to the VM.