CostIndexUSA

Chesapeake, VA vs St. Petersburg, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableVA
Chesapeake
97.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent
FL
St. Petersburg
100.9
overall index
$1,975/mo rent

Chesapeake is slightly cheaper than St. Petersburg — 3.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Chesapeake, you would need $82,400 in St. Petersburg. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+26.1%
Chesapeake
99.8
St. Petersburg
125.8
🛒 Groceries1.3%
Chesapeake
96.8
St. Petersburg
95.5
🚗 Transportation1.1%
Chesapeake
103.5
St. Petersburg
102.4
🏥 Healthcare1.1%
Chesapeake
93.7
St. Petersburg
92.7
Utilities1.2%
Chesapeake
89.6
St. Petersburg
88.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Petersburg, FL
$82,400
$2,400 more needed in St. Petersburg

Formula: salary × (100.9 ÷ 97.9) = salary × 1.0306. 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×

St. Petersburg, FL

Median Home Price
$352,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,975
Housing Index
125.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.9×

St. Petersburg has 26.1% higher housing costs compared to Chesapeake.

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

St. Petersburg, FL

Median Household Income
$72,700
Per Capita Income
$41,400
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
258,308
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceTourismTechnologyRetail

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)

St. Petersburg, FL
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.