What is the cost of living in Chester, VA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Chester has an overall cost of living index of 111, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Virginia, Chester has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Virginia's index of 112.
The standard of living in Chester ranks as #60 most affordable out of the 188 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies Chester ranks as the #128 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.
For more reading on life in Chester, check out:
Chester Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Chester. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Chester is 99.
The Groceries index in Chester is 106.
The Health index in Chester is 126.
The Housing index in Chester is 103.
The Transportation index in Chester is 103.
The Utilities index in Chester is 104.
| Living Expense | Chester | Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 111 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 106 | 104 | 100 |
| Health | 126 | 131 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 105 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 104 | 100 |
Chester 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 Chester Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Chester, 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 Chester is $390,093.
The Median Rent in Chester is $1,603.
The Median Income in Chester is $95,104.
The Home Value To Income in Chester is 4.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Chester is 0.2x.
Chester, VA Costs By Category
Detailed Chester Services costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Chester Groceries costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Chester Health costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Chester Transportation costs vs. Virginia
Chester SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Chester
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Chester. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Tuckahoe, VA has a cost of living index of 122, 1.1x Chester.
Mechanicsville, VA has a cost of living index of 112, 1.0x Chester.
Petersburg, VA has a cost of living index of 96, 0.9x Chester.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuckahoe, VA | 49,183 | 122 | 1.1x |
| Mechanicsville, VA | 38,683 | 112 | 1.0x |
| Petersburg, VA | 33,537 | 96 | 0.9x |
| Hopewell, VA | 22,959 | 96 | 0.9x |
| Meadowbrook, VA | 20,749 | 108 | 1.0x |
| Colonial Heights, VA | 18,352 | 104 | 0.9x |
| Bon Air, VA | 16,904 | 115 | 1.0x |
| Brandermill, VA | 13,730 | 116 | 1.0x |
| Lakeside, VA | 12,654 | 105 | 0.9x |
| Rockwood, VA | 10,010 | 114 | 1.0x |
