CostIndexUSA

Asheville, NC vs Chesapeake, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNC
Asheville
96.5
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
VA
Chesapeake
97.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent

Asheville is slightly cheaper than Chesapeake — 1.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Asheville, you would need $81,200 in Chesapeake. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+6.9%
Asheville
93.4
Chesapeake
99.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Asheville
96.6
Chesapeake
96.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Asheville
103.1
Chesapeake
103.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Asheville
93.3
Chesapeake
93.7
Utilities+1.1%
Asheville
88.6
Chesapeake
89.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Asheville to see what you'd need to earn in Chesapeake to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Chesapeake, VA
$81,200
$1,200 more needed in Chesapeake

Formula: salary × (97.9 ÷ 96.5) = salary × 1.0145. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Asheville, NC

Median Home Price
$413,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,750
Housing Index
93.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.7×

Chesapeake, VA

Median Home Price
$360,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,800
Housing Index
99.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.7×

Chesapeake has 6.9% higher housing costs compared to Asheville.

Income & Job Market

Asheville, NC

Median Household Income
$67,800
Per Capita Income
$38,600
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
Population
92,452
Top Industries
TourismHealthcareTechnologyArtsManufacturing

Chesapeake, VA

Median Household Income
$79,300
Per Capita Income
$45,200
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
249,422
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareRetailManufacturingGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Asheville, NC
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

69% of income left after rent (median)

Chesapeake, VA
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.