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Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC

Cost of living in Chesapeake, Virginia

Chesapeake city, VA

Part of the Virginia Beach Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,751/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 251,153 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,483 40%
Federal tax $641 17%
Healthcare $480 13%
Groceries $355 9%
Transport $320 9%
State tax $215 6%
Energy $202 5%
Water $55 1%

Rent in Chesapeake

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,475
per month
1 bedroom
$1,483
per month
2 bedroom
$1,696
per month
3 bedroom
$2,361
per month
4 bedroom
$2,809
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Chesapeake

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$94,189
per year
Individual earnings
$49,257
per year
Per capita
$43,819
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Chesapeake

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$359,100
Annual property tax
$2,937

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Chesapeake

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$153
per month · 14.6¢/kWh
Natural gas
$49
per month
Annual total
$2,424
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Chesapeake

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
6.6%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Chesapeake

State and local tax rates for Virginia.

State income tax
5.8%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
5.3%
Combined sales tax
5.8%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Chesapeake

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
25.5 min
Drive alone
77.4%
Public transit
0.6%
Work from home
11.5%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Chesapeake

What it costs to live in Chesapeake each month.

Single person
$3,751
per month
  • Rent $1,483
  • Energy $202
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $355
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $641
  • State tax $215
Couple
$5,517
per month
  • Rent $1,696
  • Energy $242
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $588
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $1,212
  • State tax $430
Family
$8,344
per month
  • Rent $2,361
  • Energy $303
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $893
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $1,212
  • State tax $430

Frequently asked questions about Chesapeake

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Chesapeake?

In Chesapeake, Virginia, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,483 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,696 per month, a three-bedroom averages $2,361 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Chesapeake?

In Chesapeake, Virginia, the average household income is $94,189 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $49,257 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Chesapeake?

The estimated cost of living in Chesapeake, Virginia is approximately $3,751 per month for a single person, $5,517 for a couple, $8,344 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Chesapeake?

The combined sales tax rate in Chesapeake, Virginia is 5.75%, which includes the Virginia state rate of 5.30% plus an average local rate of 0.45%.

Is Chesapeake an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Chesapeake, Virginia would need approximately $3,751 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $94,189 per year ($7,849 per month). Chesapeake is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Chesapeake?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Chesapeake, Virginia is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 6.6% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Chesapeake?

The average home value in Chesapeake, Virginia is $359,100, with average annual property taxes of $2,937, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Chesapeake compare to other areas?

You can compare Chesapeake, Virginia with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Chesapeake is in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area.

Other counties in Virginia

Browse the full list of counties in Virginia, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Virginia

Compare Chesapeake with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources