CostIndexUSA

Chesapeake, VA vs Los Angeles, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableVA
Chesapeake
97.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent
CA
Los Angeles
113.6
overall index
$2,875/mo rent

Chesapeake is significantly cheaper than Los Angeles — 16.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Chesapeake, you would need $92,800 in Los Angeles. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+70.7%
Chesapeake
99.8
Los Angeles
170.4
🛒 Groceries+10.1%
Chesapeake
96.8
Los Angeles
106.6
🚗 Transportation+5.9%
Chesapeake
103.5
Los Angeles
109.6
🏥 Healthcare+5.8%
Chesapeake
93.7
Los Angeles
99.1
Utilities+77.0%
Chesapeake
89.6
Los Angeles
158.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Los Angeles, CA
$92,800
$12,800 more needed in Los Angeles

Formula: salary × (113.6 ÷ 97.9) = salary × 1.1604. 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×

Los Angeles, CA

Median Home Price
$944,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,875
Housing Index
170.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
27.4×

Los Angeles has 70.7% 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

Los Angeles, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
3,979,576
Top Industries
EntertainmentTechnologyHealthcareLogisticsReal Estate

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)

Los Angeles, CA
2.7×income-to-rent ratio

63% 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.