CostIndexUSA

Brownsville, TX vs Chesapeake, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Brownsville
86
overall index
$1,425/mo rent
VA
Chesapeake
97.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent

Brownsville is moderately cheaper than Chesapeake — 13.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Brownsville, you would need $91,100 in Chesapeake. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+73.0%
Brownsville
57.7
Chesapeake
99.8
🛒 Groceries+3.2%
Brownsville
93.8
Chesapeake
96.8
🚗 Transportation+2.4%
Brownsville
101.1
Chesapeake
103.5
🏥 Healthcare+2.5%
Brownsville
91.4
Chesapeake
93.7
Utilities+10.3%
Brownsville
81.2
Chesapeake
89.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Chesapeake, VA
$91,100
$11,100 more needed in Chesapeake

Formula: salary × (97.9 ÷ 86) = salary × 1.1384. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Brownsville, TX

Median Home Price
$200,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,425
Housing Index
57.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.7×

Chesapeake, VA

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

Chesapeake has 73.0% higher housing costs compared to Brownsville.

Income & Job Market

Brownsville, TX

Median Household Income
$52,200
Per Capita Income
$29,800
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
183,392
Top Industries
International TradeHealthcareGovernmentManufacturingEducation

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).

Brownsville, TX
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.