CostIndexUSA

Chesapeake, VA vs Harrisburg, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableVA
Chesapeake
97.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent
PA
Harrisburg
98.7
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Chesapeake is slightly cheaper than Harrisburg — 0.8% lower overall cost of living.

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

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing3.5%
Chesapeake
99.8
Harrisburg
96.3
🛒 Groceries+4.0%
Chesapeake
96.8
Harrisburg
100.7
🚗 Transportation0.9%
Chesapeake
103.5
Harrisburg
102.6
🏥 Healthcare1.0%
Chesapeake
93.7
Harrisburg
92.8
Utilities+20.6%
Chesapeake
89.6
Harrisburg
108.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Harrisburg, PA
$80,700
$700 more needed in Harrisburg

Formula: salary × (98.7 ÷ 97.9) = salary × 1.0082. 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×

Harrisburg, PA

Median Home Price
$298,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
96.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.7×

Chesapeake has 3.5% lower housing costs compared to Harrisburg.

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

Harrisburg, PA

Median Household Income
$76,800
Per Capita Income
$43,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
49,192
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareFinanceEducationManufacturing

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)

Harrisburg, PA
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.