CostIndexUSA

Chesapeake, VA vs Missoula, MT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

VA
Chesapeake
97.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent
More AffordableMT
Missoula
96.4
overall index
$1,550/mo rent

Missoula is slightly cheaper than Chesapeake — 1.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Chesapeake, you would need $78,800 in Missoula. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing4.9%
Chesapeake
99.8
Missoula
94.9
🛒 Groceries0.8%
Chesapeake
96.8
Missoula
96
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Chesapeake
103.5
Missoula
103.7
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Chesapeake
93.7
Missoula
93.8
Utilities19.5%
Chesapeake
89.6
Missoula
72.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Missoula, MT
$78,800
$1,200 less needed in Missoula

Formula: salary × (96.4 ÷ 97.9) = salary × 0.9847. 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×

Missoula, MT

Median Home Price
$552,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
94.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
29.7×

Chesapeake has 4.9% lower housing costs compared to Missoula.

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

Missoula, MT

Median Household Income
$73,300
Per Capita Income
$41,800
Unemployment Rate
2.5%
Population
73,489
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTourismGovernmentRetail

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)

Missoula, MT
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.