CostIndexUSA

Chesapeake, VA vs Pittsburgh, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

VA
Chesapeake
97.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent
More AffordablePA
Pittsburgh
94.7
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

Pittsburgh is slightly cheaper than Chesapeake — 3.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Chesapeake, you would need $77,400 in Pittsburgh. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing27.9%
Chesapeake
99.8
Pittsburgh
72
🛒 Groceries+4.0%
Chesapeake
96.8
Pittsburgh
100.7
🚗 Transportation0.9%
Chesapeake
103.5
Pittsburgh
102.6
🏥 Healthcare1.0%
Chesapeake
93.7
Pittsburgh
92.8
Utilities+20.2%
Chesapeake
89.6
Pittsburgh
107.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Pittsburgh, PA
$77,400
$2,600 less needed in Pittsburgh

Formula: salary × (94.7 ÷ 97.9) = salary × 0.9673. 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×

Pittsburgh, PA

Median Home Price
$218,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
72
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.5×

Chesapeake has 27.9% lower housing costs compared to Pittsburgh.

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

Pittsburgh, PA

Median Household Income
$72,500
Per Capita Income
$41,300
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
302,971
Top Industries
HealthcareTechnologyFinanceEducationManufacturing

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)

Pittsburgh, PA
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.