Median rent is 26% lower in Chesapeake ($1,586/mo vs $2,147/mo). Buying is cheaper in Chesapeake, where the median home runs $378,400 versus $731,700. Households earn more in Boston ($97,344 vs $95,373 a year).
City A
Boston, MA
City B
Chesapeake, VA
How much would you need to earn in Chesapeake, VA to maintain your standard of living from Boston, MA?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Boston
Massachusetts
Chesapeake
Virginia
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Chesapeake — median rent of $1,586/mo versus $2,147/mo in Boston, a 26% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Boston: the median home is $731,700 versus $378,400 in Chesapeake — 48% more expensive.
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Boston
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Chesapeake
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Boston has cleaner air on average: 31.0 AQI (Good) compared to 45.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Chesapeake if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,586/mo median).
Pick Boston if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 31.0).
Is Boston cheaper than Chesapeake?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Boston vs Chesapeake?
Median rent is $2,147/mo in Boston, MA and $1,586/mo in Chesapeake, VA. Chesapeake, VA has the lower rent by about 26%.
Which has higher salaries — Boston or Chesapeake?
Median household income is $97,344 in Boston, MA and $95,373 in Chesapeake, VA. Boston, MA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Boston, MA has better air quality on average: 31.0 AQI versus 45.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Boston or Chesapeake?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Chesapeake to match my Boston income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
