CostIndexUSA

Chesapeake, VA vs Lansing, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

VA
Chesapeake
97.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent
More AffordableMI
Lansing
95
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Lansing is slightly cheaper than Chesapeake — 3.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Chesapeake, you would need $77,600 in Lansing. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing16.3%
Chesapeake
99.8
Lansing
83.5
🛒 Groceries3.2%
Chesapeake
96.8
Lansing
93.7
🚗 Transportation+1.0%
Chesapeake
103.5
Lansing
104.5
🏥 Healthcare+1.0%
Chesapeake
93.7
Lansing
94.6
Utilities+6.6%
Chesapeake
89.6
Lansing
95.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lansing, MI
$77,600
$2,400 less needed in Lansing

Formula: salary × (95 ÷ 97.9) = salary × 0.9704. 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×

Lansing, MI

Median Home Price
$234,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
83.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.0×

Chesapeake has 16.3% lower housing costs compared to Lansing.

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

Lansing, MI

Median Household Income
$70,000
Per Capita Income
$39,900
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
112,644
Top Industries
GovernmentAutomotiveHealthcareEducationFinance

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)

Lansing, MI
4.5×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.