What is the cost of living in Chesapeake, VA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Chesapeake has an overall cost of living index of 117, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Virginia, Chesapeake has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Virginia's index of 112.
The standard of living in Chesapeake ranks as #73 most affordable out of the 188 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies Chesapeake ranks as the #115 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.
For more reading on life in Chesapeake, check out:
Chesapeake Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Chesapeake. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Chesapeake is 104.
The Groceries index in Chesapeake is 101.
The Health index in Chesapeake is 149.
The Housing index in Chesapeake is 107.
The Transportation index in Chesapeake is 102.
The Utilities index in Chesapeake is 103.
| Living Expense | Chesapeake | Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 117 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 104 | 100 |
| Health | 149 | 131 | 100 |
| Housing | 107 | 105 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 103 | 104 | 100 |
Chesapeake Cost Of Living Compared To Virginia Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Virginia, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Chesapeake Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Chesapeake, VA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Virginia, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Chesapeake is $420,755.
The Median Rent in Chesapeake is $1,586.
The Median Income in Chesapeake is $95,373.
The Home Value To Income in Chesapeake is 4.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Chesapeake is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Chesapeake | Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $420,755 | $412,467 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,586 | $1,579 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $95,373 | $93,170 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.4x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Chesapeake, VA Costs By Category
Detailed Chesapeake Services costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Chesapeake | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.26 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.31 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.17 | $18 |
| Haircut | $20.0 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $54.17 | $45.56 |
Detailed Chesapeake Groceries costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Chesapeake | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.54 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.44 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.63 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.27 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.72 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.64 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.72 | $3.7 |
Detailed Chesapeake Health costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Chesapeake | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $95.44 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $122.83 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $109.67 | $113.29 |
Detailed Chesapeake Transportation costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Chesapeake | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.27 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Chesapeake Utilities costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Chesapeake | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $227.22 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.33 | $192.25 |
Chesapeake SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Chesapeake
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Chesapeake. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Virginia Beach, VA has a cost of living index of 118, 1.0x Chesapeake.
Norfolk, VA has a cost of living index of 109, 0.9x Chesapeake.
Newport News, VA has a cost of living index of 103, 0.9x Chesapeake.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Chesapeake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA | 456,349 | 118 | 1.0x |
| Norfolk, VA | 233,596 | 109 | 0.9x |
| Newport News, VA | 184,216 | 103 | 0.9x |
| Hampton, VA | 137,557 | 107 | 0.9x |
| Elizabeth, NJ | 137,302 | 125 | 1.1x |
| Suffolk, VA | 98,796 | 116 | 1.0x |
| Portsmouth, VA | 97,190 | 104 | 0.9x |
| Poquoson, VA | 12,639 | 125 | 1.1x |
| Gloucester Point, VA | 11,109 | 110 | 0.9x |
| Smithfield, VA | 8,834 | 116 | 1.0x |
