CostIndexUSA

Chesapeake, VA vs Lawrence, KS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

VA
Chesapeake
97.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent
More AffordableKS
Lawrence
90.2
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Lawrence is moderately cheaper than Chesapeake — 7.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Chesapeake, you would need $73,700 in Lawrence. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing28.3%
Chesapeake
99.8
Lawrence
71.6
🛒 Groceries2.9%
Chesapeake
96.8
Lawrence
94
🚗 Transportation4.8%
Chesapeake
103.5
Lawrence
98.5
🏥 Healthcare4.9%
Chesapeake
93.7
Lawrence
89.1
Utilities≈ Equal
Chesapeake
89.6
Lawrence
89.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lawrence, KS
$73,700
$6,300 less needed in Lawrence

Formula: salary × (90.2 ÷ 97.9) = salary × 0.9213. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Chesapeake, VA

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

Lawrence, KS

Median Home Price
$320,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
71.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.1×

Chesapeake has 28.3% lower housing costs compared to Lawrence.

Income & Job Market

Chesapeake, VA

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

Lawrence, KS

Median Household Income
$67,000
Per Capita Income
$38,200
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Population
98,004
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyRetailManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

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

Chesapeake, VA
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Lawrence, KS
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.