Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Chesapeake compared to Roanoke? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Chesapeake | Metric | Roanoke | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99 | Cost of Living Index | 88 | -11.1% |
| $355,000 | Median Home Price | $215,000 | -39.4% |
| $1,450 | Median Monthly Rent | $950 | -34.5% |
| $82,500 | Median Household Income | $55,800 | -32.4% |
| 1.0% | Property Tax Rate | 0.8% | -18.0% |
| 3.5% | Unemployment Rate | 3.6% | +2.9% |
| 27 min | Average Commute | 22 min | -18.5% |
| 37.2 | Median Age | 39.5 | +6.2% |
| 250,000 | Metro Population | 320,000 | +28.0% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Chesapeake costs $2,194/month (PITI) compared to $1,297/month in Roanoke — a difference of $897/month or $10,764/year. The price-to-income ratio is 4.3x in Chesapeake versus 3.9x in Roanoke, suggesting Roanoke is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 5.7 years to save a down payment in Chesapeake compared to 5.1 years in Roanoke.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Chesapeake | Roanoke |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $82,500 | $55,800 |
| State Income Tax | $3,944 | $2,409 |
| Federal Income Tax | $9,599 | $4,567 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $6,311 | $4,269 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $3,550/yr | $1,763/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 5.3% | 5.3% |
| Total Tax Burden | $19,854 (24.1%) | $11,245 (20.2%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $62,646 | $44,555 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $19,854 in Chesapeake (24.1% effective) versus $11,245 in Roanoke (20.2% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $62,646 in Chesapeake and $44,555 in Roanoke. Property taxes add $3,550/year on the median Chesapeake home versus $1,763/year in Roanoke.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $82,500 in Chesapeake (COL 99) and relocate to Roanoke (COL 88), you would need $73,333 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you can take a pay cut of $9,167 and still maintain your lifestyle in Roanoke.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Chesapeake is 27 minutes versus 22 minutes in Roanoke, a difference of 5 minutes each way. Chesapeake's lower unemployment rate of 3.5% versus 3.6% suggests a stronger job market. Roanoke skews slightly older with a median age of 39.5 vs 37.2 in Chesapeake.
Chesapeake is 11.1% more expensive than Roanoke overall. Chesapeake has a cost of living index of 99 compared to 88 for Roanoke (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $355,000 in Chesapeake vs $215,000 in Roanoke.
The median home price in Chesapeake is $355,000, which is $140,000 more than Roanoke's median of $215,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $1,450/month in Chesapeake vs $950/month in Roanoke, a difference of $500/month or $6,000/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $82,500 salary in Chesapeake is equivalent to $73,333 in Roanoke. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Chesapeake's COL index of 99 vs Roanoke's 88. Conversely, $55,800 in Roanoke equals $62,775 in Chesapeake.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $19,854 (24.1% effective rate) in Chesapeake vs $11,245 (20.2% effective rate) in Roanoke. Property taxes on the median home are $3,550/year in Chesapeake (1.0% rate) vs $1,763/year in Roanoke (0.8% rate). Sales tax rates are 5.3% in Virginia and 5.3% in Virginia.
Chesapeake median household income: $82,500/yr. Roanoke median household income: $55,800/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $1,450 in Chesapeake vs $950 in Roanoke. Annualized that is $17,400 vs $11,400.
Roanoke offers a lower cost of living (index 88 vs 99), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Chesapeake typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Chesapeake and Roanoke numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Chesapeake vs Roanoke cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .